Deadline Date: April 30, 2026
The ACIC VGU Foundation invites applications for the DST NIDHI Seed Support Program (SSP), offering early-stage startups funding support to accelerate technology-driven innovations.
The program focuses on providing financial assistance to incubated startups, supporting the transition from prototype to commercialization, bridging the gap between research and market entry, and enabling startups to attract follow-on investments from venture capitalists, angel investors, and institutions.
The NIDHI Seed Support Program (SSP), an initiative by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, is designed to help early-stage startups convert innovative ideas into market-ready products. Implemented through Technology Business Incubators across the country, the program supports startups associated with ACIC VGU Foundation by offering structured financial and institutional backing.
Startups selected under this program can receive up to ₹50 lakhs in seed funding to build prototypes, develop minimum viable products, conduct trials, and validate their business models. The funding is disbursed in tranches based on milestones and performance, ensuring a growth-oriented approach. Support may be provided through equity or equity-linked instruments, with an added provision of a moratorium period of up to 12 months in case of loan-based assistance.
In addition to financial support, startups benefit from expert mentoring, access to domain specialists, and connections within the startup ecosystem. The program also facilitates investor interactions, go-to-market strategies, and overall business development support through ACIC VGU Foundation.
To be eligible, startups must be legally registered in India with at least 51 percent Indian ownership and should either be incubated with ACIC VGU Foundation for a minimum of three months or be willing to join. The startup must have a working prototype or MVP with a clearly defined and validated unique selling proposition. Preference is given to startups that have not previously received seed funding from government schemes, and applicants must not be subsidiaries of multinational or foreign companies.
The program supports a wide range of sectors including AgriTech, HealthTech, CleanTech, DeepTech, AI, IoT, SaaS, Industry 4.0, SpaceTech, and mobility solutions. The funding can be utilized for market entry, product validation, commercialization, go-to-market planning, mentorship, branding, and legal or intellectual property support.
For more information, visit ACIC-VGU Foundation.
