GENESIS Pilot 2.0: MeitY Offers Up to ₹40 Lakh for Startup Pilots — Deadline 30 October 2026

The Atal Community Innovation Centre at Vivekananda Global University (ACIC-VGU), Jaipur, has invited applications from eligible startups for GENESIS Pilot 2.0, an initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub. The programme bridges the gap between product validation and commercial deployment by funding real-world pilot projects. The application deadline is 30 October 2026.

What the programme offers

Selected startups may receive pilot-linked financial support of up to ₹40 lakh, subject to eligibility, due diligence and the verified cost of delivering an eligible Pilot Purchase Order (PO) or Work Order (WO). The initiative is designed for startups that have secured a pilot engagement from a government department, Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Fortune 500 company, unicorn or other reputed enterprise.

"One of the most critical challenges for startups is converting a promising innovation into a market-ready solution that customers are willing to adopt at scale," said Gaurav Sharma, CEO, ACIC-VGU Foundation. "The journey from a working prototype to successful deployment often requires financial support, industry access and the right incubation ecosystem." Beyond the money, selected startups receive support for R&D, product customisation, testing, certification, mentoring and market connections.

Eligibility

To be eligible, a startup must be incorporated one to five years ago in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city, be DPIIT-recognised, have at least 51% Indian founder ownership, and hold a valid Pilot PO/WO worth ₹1 lakh to ₹1 crore. Prior government funding must not exceed ₹40 lakh and prior private funding ₹1.5 crore. Certain existing beneficiaries — including TIDE 2.0 (Scale-up), SAMRIDH and the GENESIS Investment Component, as well as startups in an ongoing GENESIS EIR cohort — are excluded; graduates of a GENESIS EIR cohort may be eligible. The pilot engagement must involve deploying the startup's own MVP, prototype or product — resale activities and pure manpower services do not qualify.

How to apply

Eligible startups should apply before 30 October 2026 and select ACIC-VGU Foundation as their preferred incubator. For application support: Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC-VGU), Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan — email [email protected] or call +91 96643 10508. Review the official scheme guidelines for complete requirements before applying.