Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Digital India GENESIS
Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS)
Up to ₹50L equity from MeitY Startup Hub, matching 1:1 the equity the startup has already received from a qualifying private investor, plus a 6-month acceleration programme.
You cannot apply without DPIIT recognition.
It is free, and worth holding before you need it.
Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS)
Up to ₹50L equity from MeitY Startup Hub, matching 1:1 the equity the startup has already received from a qualifying private investor, plus a 6-month acceleration programme. There is nothing to apply to here. The parts below carry their own applications.
GENESIS Matching Investment Support
Up to ₹50L equity from MeitY Startup Hub, matching 1:1 the equity the startup has already received from a qualifying private investor, plus a 6-month acceleration programme.
Who qualifies
DPIIT-recognised Indian private limited company (>=51% Indian-owned), registered in a Tier-II/III city, with a market-ready tech product, not in legal dispute, not a prior TIDE 2.0 Scale-up / SAMRIDH beneficiary, that has already received equity from a qualifying SEBI-registered VC/angel investor.
What it is worth
Up to ₹50 lakh
In kind
6-month acceleration programme (business design, GTM, tech scalability, fundraising readiness, investor connects, Demo Day) plus up to 12 months post-programme support from the IA.
How applying runs
01
Apply
Apply against an open GENESIS Investment call via a GENESIS Implementing Agency; the 2.0 call routes to the MSH portal form (mshportal.meity.gov.in).
02
documents
Certificate of incorporation, DPIIT certificate, audited financials, pitch deck, cap table, valuation report, investor term sheets.
03
screening and pitch
IA's Startup Selection Committee (MSH representatives, domain experts, investors, legal/IP advisors) scores against the rubric; shortlisted startups pitch.
04
final selection
Final selection by MSH.
05
pre disbursement
Before any money moves, MeitY checks the paperwork behind the private round: the signed term sheet, proof the investment actually reached your account, the shareholders' agreement, an updated cap table, and a board resolution accepting the funds. Its own due-diligence list follows, and MeitY Startup Hub tells you what is on it.
06
Money
MSH equity transferred directly to the startup's bank account after IA verification and MSH approval; IA holds the shares on behalf of MSH.
07
reporting
Monthly progress reports during acceleration; quarterly reports, CA-certified utilisation certificates, updated cap tables and audited statements thereafter. Non-compliance may trigger withdrawal, refund or disqualification. Records retained 5-8 years.
Where this comes from
GENESIS umbrella: ₹490 crore / 5 years, launched July 2022
Sources9 government documents behind the facts on this page
Every figure and condition on this page traces to one of these. Scheme terms change. If this page and the source disagree, the source is right, and we want to know.
GENESIS umbrella: ₹490 crore / 5 years, launched July 2022
static.pib.gov.in, checked
MSH implements via ~50 IAs; 1:1 private matching for the investment component; startup needs DPIIT and >=51% Indian promoter shareholding
msh.meity.gov.in, checked
IA eligibility is Tier-II/III-based; scheme objectives
msh.meity.gov.in, checked
Investment 2.0 eligibility, SEBI-registered investors, FDI excluded, EiR-before-graduation exclusion, patents granted or filed, deadline 2026-09-24, MSH portal form
youthnet.org.in, checked
Equity instrument; IA holds shares on behalf of MSH, ownership vests with MSH; funds to startup's account; proof of investment received; excluded sources; evaluation rubric marks; reporting
drishticps.iiti.ac.in, checked
Only funds actually received count; CCD rounds excluded; institutional investors; Tier-II/III registration mandatory
aicisb.org, checked
Matching up to ₹50L routed through the IA; equity instrument; 6-month acceleration with Demo Day
amritatbi.com, checked
MSH's own announcement: Investment 2.0 applications close 24 September 2026 (secondary mirror of MSH LinkedIn post)
community.startuptalky.com, checked
Average ₹40L, maximum ₹50L per startup under Investment Support (secondary aggregator, corroboration only)
publicservicesmap.in, checked
Last verified
How big is this, really?
Other equity / quasi-equity programmes
| Programme | What it is worth | Cost to ownership | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIDBI-iDEX Seed Fund (SINE)SIDBI | ₹10 lakh to ₹1.5 crore | Costs equity | Active |
| SIDBI SEED of a-IDEASIDBI | Up to ₹1 crore | Costs equity | Active |
Think you qualify for Digital India GENESIS?
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