Commerce Ministry notifies Rs 945 crore seed fund for startups

3AI February 2, 2021

DPIIT said that preference would be given to startups offering solutions in sectors including social impact, waste management, water management, financial inclusion, education, agriculture, food processing, biotechnology, healthcare, energy, mobility, defence, space, railways, oil and gas, textiles, etc.

The government has approved the Rs 945-crore Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) for the period 2021-25 to offer early-stage funding to startups for “proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization,” implementing body Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said in its notification. Startups across sectors registered with the DPIIT and incorporated not more than two years ago at the time of applying for the scheme will be eligible for securing capital. The funding will be disbursed through selected incubators assisted by the central government or state governments.

“We are on course to implement the scheme wef 1 April ‘21,” DPIIT Joint Secretary Anil Agrawal tweeted on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this month announced the seed fund at the Startup India’s international summit Prarambh. In his address, PM Modi had said that the government is taking steps to ensure that there is no shortage of capital for startups and that the government will also help startups to raise debt capital ahead by providing the guarantee.

Apart from the two-year incorporation window, DPIIT said that preference would be given to startups offering solutions in sectors including social impact, waste management, water management, financial inclusion, education, agriculture, food processing, biotechnology, healthcare, energy, mobility, defence, space, railways, oil and gas, textiles, etc. Also, eligible startups should not have received over Rs 10 lakh of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme and that founders should have at least 51 per cent stake at the time of application to the incubator for the scheme.

The selected incubators will disburse up to Rs 20 lakhs as grant to startups for their validation of proof of concept, or prototype development, or product trials. This grant will be disbursed in milestone-based installments that can be related to the development of prototype, product testing, building a product ready for market launch, etc. Further, up to Rs 50 lakhs will be offered to startups for market entry, commercialization, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments.

The government also announced eligibility criteria for incubators assisted by the central government or state governments to participate in the scheme that included at least two years of operability on the date of applying for the scheme, capacity to seat at least 25 individuals, at least five startups undergoing incubation at the time of application of the scheme. The scheme will be executed and monitored by an Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) to be set-up by DPIIT. EAC will evaluate incubators to provide grants of up to Rs 5 crore in milestone-based three or more installments.

Picture from freepik.com

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in an AI-Driven World: A Crucial Human Skill for Symbiotic Relationships

Featured Article: Author: Anees Merchant, EVP, Global Growth and Client Success, Course5 Intelligence The relentless progress of artificial intelligence (AI) is indisputable, and it is rapidly transforming many sectors worldwide, from healthcare and education to commerce and manufacturing. The term “AI-driven world” is no longer futuristic but a present reality. However, amidst this remarkable advancement, […]

AI in Publishing

Featured Article: Author: Deependra Singh, VP & Head Data Science and Analytics, Network 18 In recent years, the term “Artificial Intelligence” has been making headlines in almost every industry. From healthcare to finance, AI is transforming the way we work and live. But what about the media landscape? Could AI be a game-changer in this […]

Can modern AI systems solve any problem on their own?

Featured Article: Author: Puneet B C, Data Scientist – Computer Vision, AIRBUS First, let’s briefly understand what AI is. Artificial Intelligence is basically an algorithm or a rule that is used to make decisions automatically. Making a decision is to generate a desired output for the given input. In order to achieve this, the algorithm […]

Evolution of Biometric Recognition Systems with AI

Featured Article: Author: Kiranjit Pattnaik, MiQ What are biometric recognition systems Biometric recognition systems are computer-based systems that use an individual’s physical characteristics, such as their fingerprint, voice, face or any other part of the body, to authenticate their identity and grant access to secure areas, systems, or services. They are used increasingly as an […]

India's largest platform and marketplace for GCC & AI leaders and professionals

3AI Digital Library