NIDHI-PRAYAS (via Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation)
Offered by Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation
Overview
NIDHI-PRAYAS, Promotion and Acceleration of Young and Aspiring technology entrepreneurs, Support from Idea to Prototype, is a Department of Science and Technology scheme delivered through Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation (CIIF). It is designed to bridge the funding gap for very early stage innovations by helping young and aspiring innovators convert an idea into a working hardware prototype.
Eligibility
- Indian citizenship with government approved proof
- Minimum age of 18 years
- Project must involve physical product development, software only projects are excluded
- Maximum project duration of 18 months
- First time applicants only, cannot have received similar government support previously
- Open to individual innovators, teams, startups with less than 7 years of operational history and maximum annual turnover of Rs. 25 lakhs, and R&D employees or students with proper IP ownership and institutional approval
Funding Purpose
The scheme funds the hardware prototype development stage specifically, converting a validated idea into a physical, working prototype, so the applicant reaches a stage where they have a ready product and can approach incubators for commercialization funding.
Application Process
Applications are submitted through the F6S platform. Screening of submitted applications takes roughly 4 to 6 weeks from the closure date. Queries: prayas@chitkara.edu.in.
How to Apply
- 1Click "Apply Now" above and submit your application directly on the official page.
- 2The offering organisation screens applications against its own eligibility criteria.
- 3Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a pitch or interview round.
- 4The final decision rests solely with the offering organisation.
- 5There is no guarantee of funding at any stage.
Before You Apply
- ZeedFund is an independent tracker, not the offering organisation or a funding body.
- Verify current eligibility, funding amount, and deadline on the official page before applying. Details can change after we last verified them.
- Once you apply, all follow-up (screening updates, interview or pitch invites, and the final decision) comes directly from the facilitator, incubator, or investor, never from ZeedFund. Check their application portal or email yourself for status updates; we won't have visibility into it.