Applications are invited for the Call for Early Stage Startups – Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS). The application deadline is Jan 30, 2025!

About MeitY Start-up Hub

India boasts one of the world’s most dynamic startup ecosystems, with over 30,000 tech startups, ranking it the third-largest globally. As a result, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship has become a key area of focus, with significant efforts being made to strengthen the Indian economy. The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, is at the forefront, driving a wide range of innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) initiatives to support and grow this ecosystem.

To advance MeitY’s mission of fostering technological innovation, promoting startups, and encouraging the creation of Intellectual Property, a dedicated entity known as the ‘MeitY Startup Hub’ (MSH) has been established. MSH serves as the central coordinating body, providing facilitation and oversight for all incubation centres, startups, and innovation-focused activities under MeitY’s purview.

Eligibility Criteria

Entrepreneur Eligibility

    • Nationality: Applicants must be Indian citizens.
    • Age: Entrepreneurs must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
    • Commitment:
      o Must be a first-generation entrepreneur.
      o Must commit to working full-time on the proposed startup idea during the EiR program.

    Start-up/Idea Eligibility

    • Stage of the Start-up:
      • Startups must be in the ideation, validation, or early stages.
      • Must not have received significant external funding (exceeding ₹10 lakh, including government
        grants).
    • Sector/Domain Focus:
      • The proposed start-up must align with GENESIS objectives, focusing on:
      • Technology innovation (e.g., electronics, IT, emerging technologies like AI, IoT, blockchain).
      • Digital solutions addressing societal challenges in health, education, agriculture, or sustainability.

    Legal Compliance

    • If incorporated, the start-up must be registered as a Private Limited Company or LLP under applicable Indian laws.
    • The entity must not be older than 2 years at the time of application.
    • Preference will be given to start-ups less than 1 year old.

    Originality

    The start-up idea must be original and must not involve duplication of existing products/services or any form of plagiarism.

    Funding and Financial Eligibility

    • No Prior Funding Obligations:
      • The start-up must not have received significant private or government funding for the same idea.
      • Start-ups that have availed of government support under other schemes for the same concept are
        not eligible.
    • Grant Utilization: Applicants must provide a clear and actionable plan for utilizing the EiR grant
      (e.g., prototype development, market research, customer validation).

    Regional Criteria & Location

    Priority will be given to Tier 2 and Tier 3 city entrepreneurs, promoting regional innovation.

    Alignment with GENESIS Objectives

    The start-up must align with GENESIS’s goals:

      • Promoting technology-led entrepreneurship.
      • Creating jobs and fostering regional innovation hubs.
      • Supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
        Applicants must agree to actively participate in all mentorship programs, workshops, and activities
        organized under the EiR program in a physical incubation mode.

      Exclusions: The following are ineligible

        • Individuals currently enrolled in other full-time incubation/entrepreneurship schemes unless
          permitted by both programs.
        • Start-ups engaged in unethical, illegal, or non-compliant activities.

        Required Documentation

        Applicants must provide the following documents:

        1. Proof of Identity.
        2. Proof of Address.
        3. For incorporated start-ups: Certificate of Incorporation and PAN.
        4. A detailed business proposal, including:
          • o Problem statement.
          • o Solution.
          • o Intended use of EiR support.
          • o Presentation for evaluation.
        5. A declaration Letter confirming no significant external funding (if applicable).

        How to Submit?

        Interested and eligible candidates can directly apply through this link.

        Deadline

        The application deadline is Jan 30, 2025.

        Click here to view the official notification for the Call for Early Stage Startups – GENESIS 2025.

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