Karnataka Startup funding:
for funds / grants, schemes & policies
designed to nurture startups

Our Policies

Check out our policies, schemes & reports

Startup Karnataka aims to provide a comprehensive entrepreneurship platform and an ecosystem for startups. Which comprises seed fund, networking opportunity and access to the ecosystem.

Startup Funding

Details :

With the vision to create a world-class startup ecosystem in the State, the
Government of Karnataka has taken several strategic investment and policy
interventions, to create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the State.
Karnataka is the first State in the country to initiate Grant-in-aid to startups
without taking equity. The Idea2PoC/ Elevate scheme was launched by the
Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka to identify
and nurture innovative startups and to provide them the necessary boost at
various stages through funding, mentoring, incubation, etc. A one-time grant of
up to Rs. 50 lakhs are given to encourage innovators who may need early-stage
funding to develop a prototype, market development, and scale-up. The initiative
aims to provide a comprehensive entrepreneurship platform to startups along
with giving access to mentors, networking opportunities, funding, idea validation,
subsidized incubation, pilots with Government Departments, market access, etc.

Corpus :

Up to Rs. 50 Lacs for selected ideas.

Available To :

Open to anyone from Karnataka who has an idea and is willing to commit time to bring it to a PoC stage.

Process to Avail :

This is followed by shortlisting through evaluations by the panel of judges and presentations before the Idea2PoC committee.

Details :

ELEVATE Unnati is a social inclusion program to promote Startups by SC/ST
Entrepreneurs in association with the Department of Social Welfare, Government
of Karnataka under the SCSP&TCP scheme. The objective of the program is to
identify innovative technology solutions for Startups promoted by SC/ST
Entrepreneurs, release grant-in-aid funds, and handhold the Startups with
mentoring, incubation, funding support, etc.

Corpus :

Up to Rs. 50 Lacs for selected ideas.

Available To :

Open to anyone from Karnataka who has an idea and is willing to commit time to bring it to a PoC stage.

Process to Avail :

This is followed by shortlisting through evaluations by the panel of judges and presentations before the Idea2PoC committee.

Details :

A venture capital fund called KITVEN Fund-3 (Biotech) is a Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered Venture Capital Fund that proposes undertaking investments in companies catering to Biotechnology and other allied sectors within the State of Karnataka. The investment in companies will be like equity, preference capital (convertible/ redeemable), debentures, OR a combination of any of the above instruments adhering to the guidelines issued by the SEBI from time to time. As the IP/ product development life cycle is longer in most biotechnology firms, the fund seeks to co-invest with other reputed VC / investment firms. The typical investment horizon would be 3-5 years although lower periods would also be considered.

Corpus :

Rs. 50 Crores.

Available To :

  • Start-ups, Early Stage, and SMEs.
  • Maximum funding: Rs.3.50 Crores.
  • Minimum funding: Rs. 1 Crore.

Process to Avail :

  • Send executive summary covering aspects like brief background of company & promoters, technology, past financial performance, market opportunities, uniqueness of the product / technology / solution, funding requirements by email to info@kitven.in

Alternative :

  • Send the physical application form to The Chief Executive Officer,
    Karnataka Asset Management Company Private Limited
    Khanija Bhavan, 4th Floor, East Wing, No 49, Race Course Road,
    Bangalore – 560 001. India.
  • A panel of experts judge the application and have further discussions and presentations to decide on the funding.

Details :

A venture capital fund called KITVEN Fund-4 (AVGC) has a corpus of Rs. 20 crores. The Fund plans to invest in businesses in the State of Karnataka that serve animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and other related industries. The Department of IT, BT & ST, Government of Karnataka, as well as involvement from other State Government firms/institutions, created the Fund. The investment in firms will be in the form of equity, preferred capital (convertible/redeemable), debentures, or a combination of any of the aforesaid instruments, by the rules published by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from time to time. Lower time frames would also be taken into consideration, although the normal investment horizon is three to five years.

Corpus :

 Rs. 20 Crores.

Available To :

  • Start-ups, Early Stage, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.
  • Maximum funding: Rs.2 Crores.
  • Minimum funding: Rs. 50 Lacs.

Process to Avail :

  • Send executive summary covering aspects like brief background of company & promoters, technology, past financial performance, market opportunities, uniqueness of the product / technology / solution, funding requirements by email to info@kitven.in

Alternative :

  • Send the physical application form to The Chief Executive Officer,
    Karnataka Asset Management Company Private Limited
    Khanija Bhavan, 4th Floor, East Wing, No 49, Race Course Road,
    Bangalore – 560 001. India.
  • A panel of experts judge the application and have further discussions and presentations to decide on the funding.

Details :

The Grand Challenges Karnataka (GCK) is a unique innovation program of the
Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, and S&T under Karnataka Start-up Policy
2015-2020. In this program, the Department identifies societal problems (linked
to sustainable development goals) in consultation with other State government
departments. The problem statement is then refined and thrown open for
startups, innovators, and individuals to propose potential solutions to the
problem. The program uses a rigorous selection mechanism, fund them in
stages, and award grant money to the final winners. Focus sectors include Urban
Development, Health Care, Food Security, Clean Environment and Education for
all, Urban Mobility, etc.

Corpus :

Phase 1 funding:Rs 10 lakhs for each selected five Awardees and Phase 2 funding: Rs 50 lakhs for one Awardee out of the five.

Available To :

  • Start-ups.

Process to Avail :

  • Send executive summary covering aspects like brief background of company & promoters, technology, past financial performance, market opportunities, uniqueness of the product / technology / solution, funding requirements by email to startupcell@karnataka.gov.in

Alternative :

  • Send the physical application form to Karnataka Startup Cell
    Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society(KITS)
    Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka.,
    BMTC – Central Offices Building,
    TTMC ‘B’ Block, 4th Floor,
    Shanthinagar,KH Road,
    Bengaluru 560 027.
  • A panel of experts judge the application and have further discussions and presentations to decide on the funding.