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Proof-of-concept funding

40 verified programmes in the CapEasy funding directory. Every entry links to its official source.

Proof-of-concept funding exists to answer one question: does the thing work at all? It pays for the experiment, the trial, the first technical demonstration — not for marketing, hiring or scale.

Because the money is tied to a technical milestone, applications are judged on whether the milestone is specific and testable. A vague plan to "build the product" is the most common reason a proof-of-concept application fails.

40 of 40 programs

Reviewed July 2026. Government programmes change — always confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official programme page before applying.

Up to ₹25 CrApplications open

Call for Startup Innovation in Quantum Communication (NQM Q-Comm Hub)

GrantIITM-CDOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation, the NQM Quantum Communication Thematic Hub (IIT Madras Research Park), DST
Up to ₹25 CrCloses 3rd cohort / 2026 — applications open

NextSense Call for Proposals 2026 (NQM Quantum Sensing & Metrology Hub)

GrantQmet Tech Foundation, IIT Bombay (NQM Quantum Sensing & Metrology Thematic Hub), DST
Up to ₹8 CrCloses 30 Nov

First in the World Challenge Grants 2026 (ICMR)

GrantIndian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Health Research
₹25 L – ₹1 CrApplications open; confirm the closing date on the official page

Nidhi Startup Seed Support Scheme

GrantApply with the Filing AssistantKerala Startup Mission · Kerala
Up to ₹50 LRolling / always open

Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme (BIG)

GrantApply with the Filing AssistantBiotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
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Up to ₹50 L

BIRAC BIG (Biotechnology Ignition Grant) at FITT IIT Delhi

GrantApply with the Filing AssistantFITT - IIT Delhi
Up to ₹50 LRolling / always open

Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise (PACE)

GrantApply with the Filing AssistantBIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)
Up to ₹20 LPolicy period 2024-29, rolling — applications open

AP Startup Grant for women, BC, SC, ST, minority and differently-abled founders

GrantAndhra Pradesh Innovation Society (APIS), ITE&C Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh · Andhra Pradesh
Up to ₹15 LPolicy period 2024-29, rolling — applications open

AP Startup Grant: idea to proof of concept (Innovation & Startup Policy 4.0)

GrantAndhra Pradesh Innovation Society (APIS), ITE&C Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh · Andhra Pradesh
Up to ₹12.5 LApplications open

Impact Orbit – Skilling & Livelihood Innovations

GrantCapgemini (CSR) with NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore
Up to ₹10 LRolling / always open

DST NIDHI PRAYAS (SINE IIT Bombay PMU)

GrantDrafted document · assistedSociety for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay — DST NIDHI PRAYAS PMU
Up to ₹10 LRolling intake

IC IITP Incubation Program

GrantIncubation Centre IIT Patna (IC IITP)
₹2 L – ₹10 LRolling intake; no closing date stated on the official page

Ignite Innovator Grant

GrantSona Incubation Foundation (SIF)
Up to ₹10 LApplications open

Jharkhand Startup Policy 2023 — Prototype Development Assistance

GrantAtal Bihari Vajpayee Innovation Lab (ABVIL), Dept. of IT & e-Governance, Government of Jharkhand · Jharkhand
Up to ₹10 LRolling / always open

NIDHI PRAYAS

GrantDrafted document · assistedDepartment of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India
Up to ₹10 LApplications open

Startup Chhattisgarh — Seed Fund Assistance

GrantDepartment of Commerce & Industries, Government of Chhattisgarh (Startup Chhattisgarh) · Chhattisgarh
Up to ₹5 LApplications open

i-Hub Gujarat IP Support Grant (Financial Assistance for Intellectual Property)

GrantGujarat Student Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub), Education Department, Government of Gujarat · Gujarat
Up to ₹5 LRolling; quarterly screening (Feb, May, Aug, Nov) — applications open

IHFC READY Pre-seed Incubation Program

GrantIHFC, Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi (DST NM-ICPS)
Up to ₹5 LRolling intake

Surge by Peak XV

GrantPeak XV Partners
Up to ₹2 LRolling / always open

Student Startup and Innovation Policy for the State of Gujarat (SSIP 2.0)

GrantApply with the Filing AssistantEducation Department, Government of Gujarat · Gujarat
Up to ₹20,000Applications open

Uttarakhand Startup Policy 2023 — Monthly (Sustenance) Allowance

GrantDepartment of MSME / Directorate of Industries, Government of Uttarakhand (Startup Uttarakhand) · Uttarakhand
Up to ₹15,000Applications open

Jharkhand Startup Policy 2023 — Subsistence Allowance (Stipend)

GrantAtal Bihari Vajpayee Innovation Lab (ABVIL), Dept. of IT & e-Governance, Government of Jharkhand · Jharkhand
Incubation at IIT Indore with mentoring and help applying for seed funds. The incubator takes a small equity stakeRolling intake, no fixed deadline

ACE Foundation Incubation Program (IIT Indore)

SupportIITI Advanced Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Foundation, IIT Indore
AWS credits: Activate Founders up to USD 5,000 (starts at USD 1,000); Activate Portfolio up to USD 200,000 (needs Org ID from an Activate Provider: VC, accelerator or angel)Applications open

AWS Activate Credits (Founders / Portfolio)

GrantAmazon Web Services
Private wet labs, shared high-end instruments, co-working space, mentoring, and help applying for grants such as BIG and SBIRI and meeting investorsRolling intake

BBC Incubation Program (Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre)

SupportBangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC)
Equity-free micro-grants of ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 via the CfE Launch Sprint, plus access to seed funding initiativesRolling registration; no deadline stated

Catalyst CfE @ Krea

GrantCatalyst Atal Incubation Centre (Catalyst AIC)
USD 1,000 Claude API credits (expire after 6 months); up to USD 100,000 additional API credits for startups backed by a partner-network VC; plus 1 free year of Claude Team (up to 5 Premium seats)Applications open

Claude for Startups (Anthropic Startup Program)

GrantAnthropic
In-kind access to EDA tools, IP cores, MPW fabrication and post-silicon validation (no rupee value published)Applications open

DLI Scheme – Design Infrastructure Support (EDA tools, IP cores, MPW fabrication via ChipIN Centre)

GrantC-DAC for MeitY (Design Linked Incentive Scheme)
Incubation with mentoring, workspace, networking, training, legal and IP help, and help applying for grants and seed fundsRolling intake, no deadline stated

DTU-IIF Incubation Programme

SupportDTU Innovation and Incubation Foundation (DTU-IIF)
Free residential stay, co-working space and hand-holding for selected teamsRolling; quarterly selection after a pitching session

Enterprising Zone Free Residential Incubation Program (Bihar Entrepreneurs Association)

SupportBihar Entrepreneurs Association (BEA)
Google Cloud & Firebase credits: Start up to USD 2,000 (used over 1 year, for startups without equity funding); Scale up to USD 100,000 in year 1 plus 20% of year-2 usage up to another USD 100,000 (equity-funded); AI up to USD 350,000 cloud cost coverage (AI-first startups)Applications open

Google for Startups Cloud Program (Start / Scale / AI tiers)

EquityGoogle
Up to USD 150,000 in Azure Startup credits, unlocked over time; higher benefits for Investor Network-backed startupsApplications open

Microsoft for Startups (Startup credits on Azure)

GrantMicrosoft
MongoDB Atlas credits in four tiers (Inspire, Grow, Innovate, Scale); amounts not stated; promo code to be activated within 12 months and credits used within 12 months of activationApplications open

MongoDB for Startups

GrantMongoDB
Free cloud credits from NVIDIA and partners (amount not stated) plus preferred pricing (rebates) on select NVIDIA hardware and software; free self-paced coursesApplications open

NVIDIA Inception Program for Startups

GrantNVIDIA
Free access to iACE facilities, government labs and libraries, and expert mentoring for automotive and mobility ideasRolling intake, no deadline stated

Prerna Prayogshala (iACE Startup Incubation Programme)

SupportInternational Automobile Centre of Excellence (iACE)
Applicant states the funding requested; no cap printedCloses 2026 — applications open

QC LEAP Startup Support 2026 (National Quantum Mission, Quantum Computing Hub)

GrantFoundation for QC Innovation (FQCI), IISc Bengaluru (DST National Quantum Mission thematic hub)
Workshops, one-to-one mentoring, workspace, fabrication, AI, AR/VR and bio labs, legal and IP help, cloud credits and investor introductions. The incubator takes a small equity stakeRolling intake, no cohort window

RiiDL Technology Business Incubator (TBI)

SupportResearch Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory (RiiDL) Foundation, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai
Pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration over 6 to 12 months, with mentoring and access to infrastructureRolling intake

SRM BRC (Bootstrappers' Research Council) Incubation Program

SupportSRM Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre (SRM IIEC) / Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SRM-DEI), SRM Institute of Science and Technology
30 hours of online pre-incubation training, plus 10 hours of follow-up, for aspiring coffee entrepreneurs, ending with a business planPre-registration open for the batch starting around December 2026

Varttarambha (Online Pre-Incubation Program)

SupportAIC-CCRI (Atal Incubation Centre - Central Coffee Research Institute), Business Incubator of Coffee Board of India
Three months of flexible online hand-holding and mentoring, with deliverables agreed at the startRolling intake

Virtual Incubation Program (AIC-SEED)

SupportAIC IISER Pune SEED Foundation (AIC-SEED)

CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not associated with any government programme, agency or authority. Eligibility and approval rest with the relevant authorities; we help you assess and apply, but cannot guarantee approval. Programme terms change — the official page linked from each entry is the position of record.

Frequently asked

Questions founders ask.

The programmes listed on this page all accept applicants at the proof of concept stage. They differ in instrument — grant, subsidy, loan or equity — and in who runs them, so read the benefit type on each card before applying.

For most central schemes and many state schemes, yes. DPIIT recognition is free, done online, and gates a large share of the funding in this directory, so it is usually the first step rather than an afterthought.

The directory is re-checked on a rolling basis against official sources and programmes that close are removed. Each entry links to the official page, which remains the position of record — always confirm there before you apply.

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