The Karnataka government has opened the 22nd round of applications for its flagship startup grant programme, Elevate, offering entrepreneurs across the state a chance to secure funding and business support. Online applications opened on August 15.
Elevate provides a one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh to help startups build prototypes, develop proof of concepts and scale their businesses. Alongside funding, startups also get access to mentoring, incubation facilities, networking opportunities and benefits under the Karnataka Startup Policy 2022–27, including reimbursements for patent costs, marketing, GST and quality certifications.
Special programmes such as Elevate Unnati and Elevate Minorities are also open, with dedicated grants to support entrepreneurs from SC/ST and minority communities.
Launching the initiative, Karnataka electronics and IT minister, Priyank Kharge, said, “Elevate is more than a funding scheme—it’s a structured platform that empowers startups to move from idea to impact. We’ve built a system that’s fast, fair, and accountable. With each call, we reaffirm Karnataka’s leadership in the startup ecosystem—not just supporting innovation, but structuring it, scaling it, and democratising it.”
Started in 2017, the Elevate programme has funded at least 1,100 startups and disbursed ₹250 crore in grants within seven years.
The most recent round, Elevate 2024, saw 960 applications evaluated, multiple pitching rounds, and 101 startups funded with ₹25.01 crore disbursed in just 90 days.
Kharge highlighted that the programme goes beyond financial support, “We don’t just stop at funding. These startups now gain access to our incubators, mentorship from industry experts, market access programmes, incentives, VC connect, and most importantly, if their solutions align with government needs, we are open to being their first customer.”This year, the state has also partnered with Infosys, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tally Solutions, PayU, Rx100Startups, OneXtel, Legal Lifeline, and Skein Technologies to provide ‘Startup Booster Kits’, giving founders access to essential tools and services at discounted rates.
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