NIDHI Seed Support System (via DST NIDHI)
Offered by DST NIDHI (PRAYAS / EIR / SSS)
Overview
NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS), as administered through FITT at IIT Delhi, is a Department of Science and Technology initiative that provides financial assistance to early stage startups incubated at Technology Business Incubators (TBIs). It is intended to enable these startups to take their venture to the next level and improve their chances of success in the marketplace.
Eligibility
- Registered as a company in India
- Minimum 3 months of residency at the STEP/TBI
- Classified as an Indian startup, not a subsidiary of a multinational company
- At least 51% shareholding held by Indian promoters
- OCI and PIO holders qualify as Indian citizens under this scheme
Funding Purpose
Seed support, typically Rs. 25 lakhs per startup and up to Rs. 100 lakhs in exceptional cases, funds product development and testing, test marketing, professional mentoring and consultancy, IPR related expenses, operational manpower, and other approved uses. Support of Rs. 20-25 lakhs is structured as a soft loan requiring a minimum 30% repayment during incubation and full repayment within 5 years, while support exceeding Rs. 25 lakhs is redeemed through equity shares.
Application Process
The TBI publishes an announcement and advertises on its website, applicants submit formal applications, submissions are shortlisted against eligibility criteria, and an expert panel, the NIDHI Seed Support Management Committee, evaluates and selects awardees. A legal agreement is executed before funds are disbursed.
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.