Amount
Up to ₹50 lakh in many incubator programmes, with higher support possible in exceptional cases
DST seed support
NIDHI Seed Support Programme (NIDHI-SSP)
The NIDHI Seed Support Programme, an initiative of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, aims to support innovative and technology-driven startups during their early stages. It provides financial assistance for proof of concept, prototype development, product testing, market validation, and commercialization. Funding is facilitated through eligible incubators, helping startups transform promising ideas into market-ready businesses.
Benefit
Proof of concept, prototype development, product testing, market validation, and commercialization
Timing
Subject to scheme guidelines and incubator policies
Who it is for
Innovative and technology-driven startups in their early stages
What to understand first
- Funding is facilitated through eligible incubators.
- The support may be structured as equity, debt, or equity-linked support rather than an unconditional grant.
- Higher support than ₹50 lakh is possible only in exceptional cases, and still subject to scheme guidelines and incubator policies.
How we help
01 · Early-stage fit
We look at whether the startup is innovative and technology-driven, and still at an early stage the programme is meant to support.
02 · Incubator route
The programme is administered through incubators. We identify that the file has to go through an eligible incubator, not as a direct cheque from Bridgeway.
03 · Use of funds
We line the request up with proof of concept, prototype development, product testing, market validation, or commercialization.
04 · How the money is structured
We explain that the funding may be equity, debt, or equity-linked support, and that it is not an unconditional grant.
Cautions
- An incubator’s own policy can narrow who is considered, even when the scheme describes support up to ₹50 lakh.
- Do not treat NIDHI-SSP as a grant that arrives with no equity or debt terms.