• ELEVATE Minorities offers grant-in-aid of up to ₹50 lakh for startups led by minority entrepreneurs
• ELEVATE NxT offers grant support of up to ₹1 crore for DeepTech startups
• Applications for both programmes open on 13 October 2026 and close on 13 November 2026

Bengaluru :The Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, has announced the launch of the latest editions of two focused startup grant-in-aid initiatives — ELEVATE Minorities 2026 and ELEVATE NxT 2026–27 — reinforcing the State’s commitment to fostering innovation, promoting inclusive entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of high-potential startups.

Through these two initiatives, the Government of Karnataka aims to support startups at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey, while creating dedicated pathways for entrepreneurs from minority communities and startups developing cutting-edge DeepTech innovations.

Hon’ble Minister for Home, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and E-Governance, Priyank Kharge, said, “The launch of ELEVATE Minorities 2026 and ELEVATE NxT 2026–27 reflects the Government of Karnataka’s continued focus on building a startup ecosystem that is both innovation-driven and inclusive. Over the years, the ELEVATE programme has evolved to address emerging opportunities and specific requirements within Karnataka’s startup ecosystem, including dedicated interventions for DeepTech innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship and strategic sectors of future growth.

“While ELEVATE Minorities creates a dedicated pathway for entrepreneurs from minority communities to access early-stage funding and ecosystem support, ELEVATE NxT focuses on startups developing breakthrough technologies at the frontier of science and engineering. Together, the two initiatives expand the scope of the ELEVATE ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurship across communities while enabling high-potential DeepTech ventures to progress from technological innovation to product development, commercialisation and scale.”

ELEVATE Minorities 2026

Under the ELEVATE Minorities 2026 call, the Department will identify and nurture innovative startups founded by entrepreneurs from minority communities, providing financial assistance and ecosystem support to help them develop, validate and scale their innovations.

The programme offers a one-time Grant-in-Aid of up to ₹50 lakh to support startups requiring early-stage funding for activities such as prototype development, market development and scale-up. Selected startups will also receive mentoring and incubation support through government-backed incubation centres at subsidised rates.

The call is open to applicants belonging to minority communities recognised by the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation, namely Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Parsis.

Selection process and evaluation

The selection process will comprise four stages: online application submission, eligibility and document verification, in-person pitching, and the Grand Finale and winner selection.

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of novelty and innovation, socio-economic impact, business model strength, team capability and budget utilisation. Startups securing a minimum score of 60 marks will qualify for the Grand Finale.

Selected startups will receive Grant-in-Aid support of up to ₹50 lakh and will be mapped to K-Tech Partners for incubation and mentoring support.

ELEVATE NxT 2026–27: Call 2

The Department will also launch the second edition of ELEVATE NxT, its dedicated Grant-in-Aid programme for DeepTech startups. Designed to nurture ventures operating at the frontier of science and engineering, the programme aims to strengthen Karnataka’s position as a leading hub for DeepTech innovation.

ELEVATE NxT supports startups developing transformative technologies rooted in scientific discovery, advanced engineering and proprietary technology development. Eligible startups may receive Grant-in-Aid support of up to ₹1 crore.

Building on the success of the first edition

The inaugural edition of ELEVATE NxT received 983 applications from across India and supported 33 DeepTech startups with ₹30 crore in seed funding. Of the 33 supported startups, 12 were led by women entrepreneurs. The cohort included startups from Bengaluru, other parts of Karnataka and cities across India.

The selected startups represented a diverse range of DeepTech sectors, including Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Aerospace and Defence, AgriTech, FoodTech, Energy and Climate, Health and Life Sciences, Mobility and Logistics, Quantum Technology, Semiconductors and Microelectronics, and Space and Satellite Technologies.

The startups were also mapped to K-Tech Hubs and Centres of Excellence to facilitate mentorship, incubation and integration with the wider innovation ecosystem.

Building on the inaugural edition, ELEVATE NxT 2026–27 will provide selected startups with targeted financial assistance, milestone-based support and access to Karnataka’s innovation ecosystem.

Priority sectors

Priority sectors under ELEVATE NxT include AI, Gen AI, quantum technologies, drones and autonomous systems, advanced materials, robotics, industrial automation, and space and satellite technology, among others.

Selection process and evaluation

The ELEVATE NxT selection process will comprise five stages: application submission, eligibility screening, DeepTech qualification assessment, in-person pitching and Grand Finale evaluation.

Startups progressing to the pitching stage must secure a minimum score of 60 marks to qualify for the Grand Finale.

Applications will be evaluated on six core parameters:

• Strength of scientific foundation and technical innovation
• Depth of research and development efforts
• Commercialisation strategy and business model
• Potential socio-economic impact
• Expertise and experience of the founding team
• Budget allocation and grant utilisation plan

Applicants will be required to submit two prescribed pitch decks:

• DeepTech Qualification Pitch Deck: Demonstrating why the startup qualifies as a DeepTech venture.
• Business Model Pitch Deck: Outlining the market opportunity, product strategy, commercialisation roadmap and growth plans.

Application timeline

Applications for ELEVATE Minorities 2026 and ELEVATE NxT 2026–27 will open on 13 October 2026 at 9:00 AM and close on 13 November 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Applications for both programmes can be submitted through the Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka website:
https://eitbt.karnataka.gov.in/en

To be eligible, startups must meet the prescribed incorporation and registration requirements for the respective programmes.

Grant disbursement and ecosystem support

Grant support under both ELEVATE Minorities and ELEVATE NxT will be disbursed in two tranches. The first tranche will be released upon completion of post-selection formalities and execution of programme agreements, while the second tranche will be released upon the successful achievement and review of approved milestones.

Selected startups will be mapped to K-Tech Innovation Partners, Centres of Excellence and ecosystem partners, enabling access to mentorship, incubation, technology validation support, market linkages and industry connection.