DPIITSISFS
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
Up to ₹20 lakh grant for proof-of-concept / prototyping, or up to ₹50 lakh debt for market entry — for early-stage DPIIT-recognised startups, via approved incubators.
NOTICE
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₹5,00,000 – ₹50,00,000
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Highlights and Media
Key Highlights
Grant & Debt Routes
Provides up to ₹20 lakh in grants for prototyping, or up to ₹50 lakh in debt for commercial scaling.
Incubator Handholding
Funded directly through government-approved incubators who provide mentoring, office space, and business guidance.
Focus on Greenfield Startups
Specifically targeted at early-stage DPIIT-recognised startups under 2 years old.
Startup India Seed Fund Routes
Comparison between the Proof-of-Concept Grant and Commercialisation Debt options
Proof-of-Concept Grant
Up to ₹20 Lakh• Non-repayable financial assistance • For prototyping, product trials, testing, and proof of concept development • Disbursed in milestones via selected incubator.
Commercialisation Debt
Up to ₹50 Lakh• Provided as debt, convertible debentures, or debt-linked instruments • For market entry, scaling, and commercial launch • Low interest rates and flexible conversion options.
Who is eligible
- Entity is DPIIT-recognised
- Entity age within the 2-year window
Eligibility rules · v1 · effective 1 January 2026
Who is not eligible
- SISFS is for startups ≤ 2 years old.
- Requires DPIIT recognition (not yet held).
Becomes eligible after: dpiit recognition
How to apply
Identify an approved incubator near you (filter by sector)
DPIIT publishes the approved-incubator list on the SISFS portal.
Typical duration · 1 day
Apply via the SISFS portal
Upload documents; select up to 3 incubators.
Typical duration · 1 day
Pitch to the incubator's SISFS committee
Shortlist target: 45 days. Realistic: 6–10 weeks.
Typical duration · 45 days
Receive disbursement
Disbursement target: 60 days from selection. Realistic: 6–16 weeks total.
Typical duration · 60 days
Sources
- SISFS — Official portalMINISTRY_PORTAL · Fetched 5 July 2026
- PIB — SISFS launch press releasePIB_RELEASE · Fetched 5 July 2026
Additional Details
SISFS funds early-stage startups in two tranches via DPIIT-approved incubators:
- Up to ₹20 lakh grant for proof of concept, prototyping, product trials, and market entry validation.
- Up to ₹50 lakh debt/convertible debentures for market entry, commercialisation, and scaling.
Disbursement: through the incubator, not directly from DPIIT. Realistic timelines run 6–16 weeks (often longer in practice) despite the published 45-day shortlist + 60-day disbursement targets.
Eligibility requires: DPIIT recognition, an Indian-incorporated entity ≤ 2 years old (note: the age limit is strict; a 2-year-1-day-old startup is automatically out), and matching the focus sectors of the chosen incubator.
Related / Stackable schemes
DPIIT
DPIIT Startup Recognition
Government recognition for innovative startups — unlocks tax holidays (80-IAC), self-certification, and access to SISFS, CGSS, and SIPP.