National Startup Awards 5.0 by DPIIT [Free; Online; Prizes Worth Rs. 10L; Mentorship]: Apply Now!

Apply now for the National Startup Awards 5.0 by DPIIT. It is free, online with prizes worth Rs. 10 Lakhs.

About the Award

NSA 5.0 aims to celebrate and empower startups that drive innovation, sustainability, and social impact, contributing to India’s growth journey toward becoming a “Viksit Bharat”.
This 5th edition emphasizes holistic impact and disruptive innovation, honoring startups that address societal challenges, create jobs, leverage technology for transformative solutions, and recognize startups in upcoming sectors.

Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria of National Awards 5.0 for Startups are as follows:

• The startup must be a DPIIT-recognized startup and registered with BHASKAR at the time of application. The entity must submit a valid certificate of recognition issued by DPIIT.
• The entity must have a hardware or software product or a process solution that is present in the market.
• The entity must have all applicable trade-specific registrations as applicable to their business (example: CE, FSSAI, MSME, GST Registration, etc.)
• There should not have been any default by the startup participating in the last three years (FY 22-23, FY 23-24 and FY 24-25) by the startup itself or any of its promoters or any of their group entities.
• The entity must submit audited financial statements (balance sheet, profit & loss account) for the last three financial years (FY 22-23, FY 23-24 and FY 24-25)
• In case your startup is less than 3 years old, please upload all available financial statements. Startups which are less than a year old and do not have audited financials, will be exempt from this requirement. In case of non-availability of audited financials for FY 2024-25, provisional statements issued by chartered accountant may be provided.
• The entity should not be completed 10 years of incorporation on or before the last date of submission of applications.

Eligibility Criteria for National Awards 5.0 for Special Category Participants are as follows:

• The stakeholder (incubator and mentor) must be registered with BHASKAR.
• They should be actively working towards supporting startups.
• There should not have been any default by them in the last three years (FY FY 22-23, FY 23-24 and FY 24-25)
• For mentors, following points may be considered while evaluating – average rating, number of startups mentored, number of mentorship hours

Rules

• Participation in the National Startup Awards is voluntary.
• Applicants who were declared as “winners” in any category in any previous National Startup Awards will not be eligible.
• One startup can apply in maximum 2 categories.
• All startups may be subject to a legal due diligence review by independent third-party evaluators. If the individual/ organization refuses to such a request, Startup India holds the right to select the next highest scoring nominee to move forward.
• By participating in the National Startup Awards, the applicants, agree to the Government of India’s and its partners use of its name, URL, photos, and videos for promotional purposes on its website and other promotional material.
• Any false information provided within the context of National Startup Awards by any entity concerning identity, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of right, or non-compliance with these rules or any terms and conditions or the like may result in the immediate elimination of the entity from the awards process.
• The decisions of the jury and the implementation committee will be final and binding.
• At the discretion of the jury, awards may not be presented in any category if a deserving entity is not found.
• DPIIT reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the National Startup Awards or not award any entity in any category. DPIIT further reserves the right to disqualify any candidate/entity that tampers with the submission process, commits fraud or is in violation of criminal and/or civil laws.
• Allowances will not be paid to any entity for travel or presentation before the jury.

Instructions for Filling the Form

• Step 1: Register on Startup India and obtain DPIIT recognition.
  • In case you are already registered on Startup India and have a DPIIT recognition number, ensure that all the details given on Startup India registration are correct as certain fields will auto-populate in the application form.
• Step 2: Go to ‘National Startup Awards’ tab on Startup India Website
• Step 3: Click on ‘Apply for National Startup Awards 5.0’ tab.
• Step 4: Click on ‘Apply’ under application closing countdown and select the category under which the startup wishes to apply. You will only be able to fill the form through the registered account of the recognized startup on the Startup India portal.
• Step 5: Check the auto-populated details in the participation form for National Startup Awards.

Benefits of National Startup Awards

Through NSA 5.0, the endeavor is to not only acknowledge outstanding startups but also provide invaluable support, mentorship, and resources essential for the continued growth and success of startups.

• INR 10 Lakh Prize money for each general category winner.
• Notable visibility at the national level and international level.
• Exclusive handholding support, including investor & government connections, market access opportunities, and much more.

How to Apply?

Interested participants can apply through this link.

Click here to view the official notification of the National Startup Awards 5.0 by DPIIT.

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