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DST-NIDHI Seed Support Program 2025 (India)

Deadline: 10 July 2025

SINE with the support from Department of Science & Technology (DST) has opened the call for application under NIDHI-Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS).

Aims

  • The program aims at providing financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization etc.

Objectives

  • The sole objective of the NIDHI-SSS is to ensure timely availability of the seed support to the deserving incubatee start-ups within an incubator, thereby enabling them to take their venture to next level and facilitate towards their success in the market place. The scheme also enables the STEP/TBI to widen their pipeline of start-ups and also share the success of their start-ups which would also result in ensuring the long term operational sustainability of the STEP/TBI.

Funding Information

  • The Seed Support size for the startups shall be capped at Rs 100 lakhs per startup (Rs. 100 Lakhs considered only in exceptional cases).

Usage of Funds

  • The funds can be used for the following:
    • Product development: Procurement of equipment and tools, prototyping, testing and trials, raw material and consumables, fabrication, outsourcing of technical supports and services for the company’s product.
    • Manpower: Salaries for team members can be apportioned.
    • Marketing: For test marketing, sales, promotions of companies’ products and services including travelling only for business and product promotion.
    • Mentoring: Seeking professional mentoring assistance.
    • Professional services: For legal, accountancy, IP, marketing, strategy, regulatory compliance, certification, or any other justifiable professional services.
    • Contingencies/Overrun:This shall not exceed 10% of the seed support.
    • For any other business operations purpose which needs to be justified in the application itself and as recommended/ approved by the Investment committee from time to time.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The applicant must be:
    • An Indian registered entity as a private limited company, with a minimum of 51% shareholding by Indian Promoters.
    • The startup should be registered with DPIIT or obtain DPIIT certificate to avail the funding
    • The Start-up should be incorporated as a private limited company
    • The applicant startup should have developed clarity on Unique Selling Proposition (USP) through customer validation and value proposition for its targeted customers.
    • An entity formed by splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business shall not be considered a “Start-up”
    • Support is not meant for-Indian subsidiaries of MNCs/foreign companies.
    • Start-up cannot receive NIDHI Seed funding more than once from any source and from any of the incubators
    • Funding support should not be only for capital expenditure
    • The application should mandatorily include a declaration by applying start-up that they have not received any NIDHI-seed support from any other DST supported incubator.
    • Overseas Citizens of India-OCI and Persons of Indian Origin-PIO are considered as  Indian citizens for the purpose of this scheme

For more information, visit SINE.