Indian government equity & convertible funding.
Schemes where the government — directly or via Fund of Funds — takes equity, convertibles, or equity-linked instruments. Lower cost of capital than venture debt but with dilution. Best for capital-intensive sectors and growth-stage rounds.
SISFS includes a convertible-debenture / debt component up to ₹50 L for market entry. FFS 1.0 and 2.0 is a Fund of Funds — SIDBI invests in SEBI AIFs which then deploy 2× the SIDBI commitment into DPIIT-recognised startups. FFS 2.0 (Apr 2026) has a ₹10,000 Cr corpus with a Deep Tech carve-out.
TDB offers soft loans and equity at concessional rates 5-9% for hardware / IP-heavy ventures. NIDHI-SSS deploys up to ₹1 Cr per startup via incubators as loan, equity, or equity-linked. IN-SPACe TAF covers up to ₹25 Cr (60% project cost) for space tech commercialisation.
State Fund of Funds programmes: Maharashtra MahaFund (₹500 Cr), UP FoF (₹1,000 Cr SIDBI-managed), Telangana T-Fund with a ₹1,000 Cr AI-focused FoF announced Dec 2025.
Schemes that apply
11 schemes
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) 1.0 & 2.0
FFS doesn't fund startups directly — backs SEBI AIFs which deploy 2× SIDBI commitment into DPIIT startups. FFS 2.0 (Apr 2026): another ₹10,000 Cr with Deep Tech carve-out.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Up to ₹20 L grant for PoC/prototype + up to ₹50 L convertible/debt for market entry. Apply to up to 3 incubators. ₹605+ Cr deployed to 3,400+ startups.
Technology Development Board
Soft loans (up to 50% project cost) or equity at concessional rates ~5-9%. Suited for hardware/IP-heavy ventures.
NIDHI-SSS — Seed Support Scheme
Up to ₹1 Cr per startup via incubator as loan, equity, or equity-linked. NRI-friendly.
IN-SPACe Technology Adoption Fund
₹500 Cr corpus. Up to 60% of project cost (₹25 Cr cap) for spacetech commercialisation.
Telangana T-Fund / T-SEED
T-Hub is India's largest incubator. T-Fund: ₹25 L–₹1 Cr co-investment. ₹1,000 Cr FoF (Dec 2025, AI focus). Pavala Vaddi 9% subvention.
Maharashtra MahaFund / MSInS
₹500 Cr MahaFund + MSInS Seed Fund. India's highest IPR reimbursement: ₹2 L domestic / ₹20 L international patents.
Odisha Startup Growth Fund
OSGF managed via SIDBI. Heavy push on rural innovation, agritech, MSME-linked enterprises.
UP Startup Policy + Fund of Funds
₹1,000 Cr Fund of Funds (SIDBI-managed). Plus seed capital, patent/IPR reimbursement, marketing support.
Ubharte Sitaare — Export Champions
Up to ₹25 Cr equity + debt mix from EXIM Bank and SIDBI for export-ready startups.
VC Fund for SC/ST Entrepreneurs
IFCI Venture-managed ₹500 Cr corpus, expanded with ₹2,000 Cr term loan window for first-time SC/ST women entrepreneurs.
Frequently asked questions
Does the government directly take equity in my startup?+
Almost never directly. Most "government equity" is deployed through Fund of Funds (FFS, state FoFs) into SEBI-registered AIFs (Cat I and II), which then invest as professional VCs. TDB and IN-SPACe TAF are exceptions — they can make direct equity / soft-loan investments.
How much equity dilution should I expect?+
Depends on the round size and valuation — typical FFS-backed seed / Series A rounds dilute 15-25%. SISFS convertible-debenture portion converts at the next priced round. TDB soft loans don't dilute; equity-linked TDB components do, and terms are negotiated case-by-case.
Do I need DPIIT recognition for these equity schemes?+
Yes for SISFS (required) and FFS (the AIF will only invest in DPIIT-recognised startups). TDB does not strictly require DPIIT but indigenous technology and Indian incorporation are mandatory. State equity schemes typically require state incorporation, not DPIIT.