Elevate Karnataka 2026

About the Program

ELEVATE is a Grant-in-Aid program by the Government of Karnataka designed to support and fund innovative startups. The program provides a one-time grant of up to INR 50 Lakhs to early-stage startups to help transform their ideas into a proof-of-concept. Selected startups will also receive mentoring and incubation support from government-backed incubation centers.

Program Tracks

Startups can apply for one or more of the following tracks based on their eligibility:

• ELEVATE 2026: The main track applicable to all startups registered in Karnataka.
• ELEVATE Unnati: For startups with at least 70% equity held by founders from the SC/ST community.
• ELEVATE Aspire: For startups registered in districts beyond Bengaluru Urban.
• ELEVATE Shakti: For startups with a minimum of 51% stake held by women founders or co-founders.

Common Eligibility Criteria

• The startup must be based in Karnataka.
• Company turnover should not exceed INR 200 Crore in any financial year.
• Must be within 10 years from the date of incorporation.
• Should be an independent entity, not a subsidiary of an existing company.
• Must have a minimum team size of two individuals.
• Should not have been a beneficiary of the ELEVATE grant in the last 3 years.
• The startup must be working on an innovative product, service, or process with potential for impact.

Application Process

The selection process involves multiple stages including online application submission, screening, pitch deck evaluation, multi-city pitching, and a grand finale for winner selection.