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NIDHI-PRAYAS (via SMVDU Technology Business Incubation Centre)

Offered by SMVDU Technology Business Incubation Centre

Overview

NIDHI-PRAYAS is a Proof-of-Concept program under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI), endorsed by NSTEDB, Government of India, and delivered through PRAYAS centres such as the SMVDU Technology Business Incubation Centre. It supports early-stage innovators in converting an idea or innovation into a physical, working prototype, giving them direct access to labs and mentorship without upfront financial risk.

Eligibility

  • Individual innovators must be Indian citizens and at least 18 years old on the date of application
  • Startups must be incorporated in India with at least 51% equity held by Indian citizens, and must not be more than 7 years old
  • Startup must not have had annual turnover exceeding 25 lakh rupees in any financial year since inception
  • Prototype must be a physical product, completable within 18 months, and the project must not have already crossed prototype stage

Funding Purpose

PRAYAS provides grants of up to 10 lakh rupees to emerging innovators specifically for prototype development, converting technological concepts into working hardware models.

Application Process

Innovators apply to a PRAYAS centre such as SMVDU TBIC with their proposal; eligibility is checked against citizenship/age or incorporation/turnover/age criteria, and against the requirement that the innovation is still at pre-prototype stage.

Apply Now ↗

How to Apply

  1. 1Click "Apply Now" above and submit your application directly on the official page.
  2. 2The offering organisation screens applications against its own eligibility criteria.
  3. 3Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a pitch or interview round.
  4. 4The final decision rests solely with the offering organisation.
  5. 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.