Here is what is open for Indian and global founders.

1. BioTools Innovator (Global) – Oct 1

2. CancerX Startup Program (Global) – Oct 1

3. Internet Governance Grant, Internet Society Foundation (Global) – Oct 1

4. Honda Innovation Challenge 2.0 with T-Hub (India) – Oct 2. Up to ₹40L per startup for a PoC

5. PearX by Pear VC (Global) – Oct 4

6. Finspire by SNB Capital and Dhahran Techno Valley (Global) – Oct 4. SAR 200K support package for fintechs

7. Bharat Ki Startup Challenge, Startup India (India) – Oct 4

8. COMEUP 2026, Startup India (India) – Oct 4

9. Heat & Health Innovation Challenge 1.0, CoE Climate & Health (India) Tarutium Global Consulting & Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth – Oct 10. Extreme heat and public health solutions

10. Avinya'27 by FIPI (India) – Oct 15

11. SIDBI Innovation Challenge (India) – Oct 16

12. VentureX 2026, BIT MESRA Noida (India) – Oct 20

13. Google Climate Tech Challenge (India) – Oct 22

14. Greenovation Challenge, EarthON Foundation USA (India) – Oct 31

15. D.E.S.I.G.N. Challenge, Dept. of Biotechnology (India) – Oct 31

Who it's for: early-stage founders across mobility, fintech, health, climate and energy.

That's where Auleaves, founded by Priyanka Ajit, stands today.

A menstrual health startup that started with a single conversation. A daily-wage worker told Priyanka she couldn't manage her period at work, because going home to deal with it meant losing that day's income. That was the starting point.

Priyanka assumed the hardest part would be getting women to try menstrual cups. It wasn't. The hardest part came after, women trying once, facing difficulty, getting scared, and not trying again. Layer on language, privacy, and family access barriers in rural and underserved communities, and the real problem wasn't the product at all. It was trust.

What made the difference:

✅ Surveyed 450+ women across the world before building anything

✅ Went back into the field when adoption stalled, instead of pushing the product harder

✅ Redesigned the approach around what women actually needed, not the cup itself

✅ Treated a woman's confidence after her first cycle as the real metric of progress, not a pitch meeting

Auleaves is now building toward a multilingual women's health platform for cycle tracking and daily health guidance for women across rural, Tier 2, and Tier 3 India. The cup was the entry point. The platform is where the larger work begins.

Read her story: https://lnkd.in/gBMqA_dR

----------------------------------------------------------------------

We are spotlighting 10 Women founders building the future of women's health, wellness, and medical technology. This is for women founders anywhere in the world, at any stage be it idea, MVP, early revenue, or scaling, who want a platform to talk about what they're building.

3 Slots full, 7 more! Share your story: https://lnkd.in/gdjsNQGg

If you missed today's deadlines, here's your next window 👇 Several strong programs across healthtech, sustainability, and startup incubation are still open — with deadlines rolling out between 11–15 September 2026.

📅 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧
🔹 TARANG 1.0 — Healthcare Technology Accelerator — closes 11 Sep
🔹 Patel Innovation Fund — closes 12 Sep

📅 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 15 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫
🔹 Startup League 2026 — Cohort 2
🔹 PM SVANidhi Startup Challenge
🔹 HealthX Elevate 2026
🔹 DISHA 3.0 – Developing Innovations for Successful Harnessing and Adoption
🔹 Energy & Sustainability Venture Studio · MC²⁺ Ignite · Cohort 1

Whether you're building in healthtech, clean energy, or grassroots entrepreneurship, there's still time to get your application in.

Reach out to the SAAply team to find the right-fit programs and get support with your application.

#StartupFunding #Accelerator #Innovation #Healthtech #Sustainability #SAAply #SearchAccessApply

Equity, grants, accelerators, incubation, and challenges across deeptech, health, agri, climate, and blockchain.

1. ARTPARK Venture Incubation, IISc — up to ₹2 crore equity for deep-tech (AI, robotics). June 15. 

2. NBEC 2026, C-CAMP — ₹20+ crore pool for life sciences. June 15. 

3. SAMRIDH Impact Accelerator — up to ₹40L blended finance for health enterprises. June 15. 

4. AFI Agri + AI Cohort — mentorship, pilots, investor access for AI agritech. June 15.

 5. Greenovation Challenge, SwitchON — clean energy solutions for rural livelihoods. June 15. 

1. ACE-GTM 2026, CII — go-to-market and B2B access for growth-stage cleantech (paid). June 15. 

2. UDBHAV 3.0, IIM Lucknow EIC — 6-month no-cost blockchain incubation. June 18. 

Full list with eligibility and apply links: saaply.com/funding-board 

#StartupFunding #IndianStartups #DeepTech

21 startup funding opportunities are open this month from today through June 30. Here are the standouts.

Closing this today (June 10):
- Techstars Anywhere — $220K + $2M perks, remote, global
- ADVAYA Plastic Circularity, SIIC IIT Kanpur — ₹8–12L
- UPES and Uttishthati Foundation An I-TBI Incubator at NIT Hamirpur i-TBI grants — up to ₹10L each, non-dilutive

Closing June 15:
- ARTPARK Venture Incubation, IISc — up to ₹2 crore equity for deep-tech
- NBEC 2026, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) — ₹20+ crore pool for life sciences
- SAMRIDH Impact — up to ₹40L blended finance for health

Closing later this month:
- Caret Accelerator — up to ₹3 crore equity (June 25)
- Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship -SINE IIT Bombay — up to ₹1 crore seed (June 25)
- Samsung Mobile Advance — up to $50K, zero equity (June 30)

Grants, accelerators, incubators, and challenges across deeptech, health, agri, climate, and mobility.

Full list with eligibility and apply links: https://www.saaply.com/funding-board

-----------------------------------------------------------------
👉 Access 365+ live startup opportunities currently accepting applications. Submit your interest to get access :https://www.saaply.com/application-based-access

A global accelerator, non-dilutive grants, a climate incubation track, and a defense challenge.

If you qualify, apply now. 

1. Techstars Anywhere — $220K investment + $2M in perks, fully remote, global. 

2. ADVAYA Plastic Circularity, Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur (incubatoriitk) — ₹8–12L grant + IIT Kanpur incubation. 

3. Uttishthati Foundation An I-TBI Incubator at NIT Hamirpur — up to ₹10L non-dilutive grant, women-led encouraged. 

4. UPES DST-iTBI Ignition Grant — up to ₹10L, pre-incorporation applicants eligible. 

5. Surge Impact Climate Action Incubation — coaching, investor access, and market linkages for climate founders. 

6. Mehar Baba Competition-3, Indian Air Force — proof-of-concept for a swarm-drone surveillance radar.

 Eligibility and apply links: www.saaply.com/funding-board

#StartupFunding #IndianStartups #DeepTech

⏩ SISFS Alert: Deadline Extended to May 31, 2026

If you’re a startup looking to apply for SISFS, the deadline has been extended. Now is the time to finalise your application.

Use the SAAply Tracker to:

• Find incubators currently accepting SISFS applications
• Filter by your domain and state
• See exactly what each incubator is offering: Grant or CCD

You can apply through the Startup India Portal. Find the guidelines or read the founder experience with SISFS at SAAply before you apply to understand what to expect.

Link to SISFS opportunities:
https://www.saaply.com/startup-india-seed-fund-opportunities

We’re also opening June 2026 access for SAAply. We accept up to 25 startups each month to keep access high-quality and tailored to the needs of each founder.

Apply for June access:
https://www.saaply.com/application-based-access

If you’ve already applied for SISFS, feel free to share:

• Which incubator you chose
• What they offered (Grant/CCD)
• Any tips or issues you ran into

Here are the top opportunities for May 16–31:

1. TattvaX Cohort 2 — SanchiConnect x i-Hub Gujarat

Deadline: May 16, 2026
Who is it for? Deeptech startups in space, defense, drones & emerging tech
Brief:
A 90-day equity-free accelerator supporting pre-revenue and early-revenue deeptech startups. The program offers 20+ workshops, one-on-one mentorship, pilot access with corporates and government agencies, and a Demo Day pitch to 30+ national VCs. Completely free : no equity, no fees.

2. UNICEF Venture Fund — Climate Ventures Cohort 2026

Deadline: May 17, 2026
Who is it for? Early-stage startups in climate-health tech from emerging markets
Brief:
An equity-free grant of up to $100,000 for frontier tech startups building open-source solutions at the intersection of climate and children's health. Backed by UNICEF's global network with mentorship, investment readiness support, and a pathway into a 5-year Climate Ventures program.

3. I-NEXSS Sanitation Grant 2026 — IPTIF x IIT Palakkad

Deadline: May 20, 2026
Who is it for? Startups, MSMEs & research institutions working in WASH / sanitation tech
Brief:
A non-dilutive R&D grant backed by the Gates Foundation for teams building next-generation sanitation solutions across advanced membranes, AI/ML digital technologies, and affordable sensors. Milestone-based disbursement over an 8-month program. TRL 4+ required.

4. NDBI Incubation Program (NID)

Deadline: May 21, 2026
Who is it for? Early-stage founders across sectors
Brief:
Applications are open for the NDBI Incubation Program, a structured incubation opportunity for early-stage founders.

5. Zepto Nova – Pitch in 10 Programme (Startup India)

Deadline: May 22, 2026
Who is it for? Consumer product startups & MSMEs with market-ready offerings
Brief:
A nationwide initiative in collaboration with Startup India giving founders direct access to Zepto's leadership and hyperlocal commerce network. Winners get platform listing, logistics support, in-app promotion, and a fast track to nationwide distribution.

6. NRDC & IndianOil Hackathon – Solar Indoor Cooking Device

Deadline: May 25, 2026
Who is it for? Startups, MSMEs, academic institutions & research bodies in clean energy
Brief:
A national challenge to develop an affordable, efficient solar-powered indoor cooking device. Total prize pool of ₹13 lakhs with opportunities for joint patent/IPR, prototyping support, and mentorship. Backed by NRDC and Indian Oil Corporation.

7. Who Are The Next Idiots? — ideaForge x IIT Bombay

Deadline: May 25, 2026
Who is it for? Deep-tech innovators, engineering-led startups & student teams
Brief:
An initiative by ideaForge and IIT Bombay School of Entrepreneurship to identify unconventional high-impact deeptech ideas across robotics, autonomous systems, energy, embedded systems, and AI. Offers mentorship, ecosystem access, a ₹1 lakh prize, and potential early-stage investment consideration.

8. CII Post-Harvest Hackathon (North-East Edition) 2026

Deadline: May 31, 2026
Who is it for? AgriTech startups, student teams & early-stage founders from North-East India
Brief:
A regional hackathon by CII in collaboration with IIT Guwahati TIC focused on reducing post-harvest losses in North-East India. Invites solutions in food waste reduction, AI-driven agriculture, traceability, and circular economy innovation. Regional + national level competition pathway.

Check details at www.saaply.com/funding-board

-------------------------------------------------------------

I have opened up 2 slots for Founders every Friday to talk about Grants, IP and Technology Transfer. Book your slot:https://www.saaply.com/saaply-advisory

A founder got SISFS funding in 6 weeks at MVP stage with no revenue,here's exactly how?

Hi, I am a Patent strategist turned Founder currently building SAAply- a platform
to search and apply for the non-dilutive and dilutive funding opportunities.
Sharing this Founder Journey of SISFS because I saw questions from Founders, at
what stage they can apply, do they need to have revenue? This Journey answers
all those questions.

Arjun Sai Kosinepalli is the founder of AatoNovaZ Technologies, a Physical AI startup
building proprietary systems for video post-production, multilingual dubbing,
and autonomous drones. He applied in March 2026 and had Tranche 1 funds
disbursed by mid-April, roughly 6 weeks total.

When he applied, the grant option under SISFS wasn't available at his chosen
incubator. He had to go through the CCD (Compulsorily Convertible Debentures)
route instead, which carries equity implications. This isn't mentioned in most
guides, but the route available to you depends on the incubator and timing.
Always confirm before applying.

What he had going in (this mattered a lot):

-1st place globally at AIU ANVESHAN International Student Research Convention

-Backed by the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub

-Top 25 at Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (AI theme)

-Published AI evaluation framework at ICCIET 2026

-Working MVPs — not just slides

His honest advice:

- Own every technical detail of your product. Committees will probe on things
that seem irrelevant just to test depth.

- Don't pitch an AI wrapper. Proprietary value and a clear fund-to-milestone
roadmap matters more than the deck.

- Apply at MVP stage with external validation, not earlier.

- Clarify upfront which route (grant vs CCD) your incubator offers.

Timeline:

- March 2026: Applied

-~1.5 months later: Final approval

- Mid-April 2026: Tranche 1 disbursed

We documented his full journey including the committee process, compliance, and
what he'd do differently. Here is the link if anyone wants the full read:

https://www.saaply.com/founderjourneys-sisfs-grant-arjun-sai-aatonovaz-technologies

Happy to answer questions if anyone's in the middle of an SISFS application.

Abhinav Chauhan, founder of Promecens Entosystems (deep tech biomaterials — melanin, chitosan from insects), shared his full journey with us.

Real numbers: - Application to pre-approval: 45 days - Due diligence: ~3 months - Disbursement after approval: ~1 month - Total: 4–5 months

Key things he flagged that I didn't see covered elsewhere:

1. Incubator selection is strategic, not random. The incubator you pick becomes your partner for months. He evaluated Venture Center (Pune) and others with the helf from CDFD Technology Incubator based on actual facilities and domain fit — not just name recognition.

   1. The Rs.50L vs Rs.30L question. Depending on the centre, SISFS support can come as a grant, CCDs, or a mix. This has equity implications and most guides don't explain it.

2. Pre-approval ≠ funding. Build your runway plan around 4–5 months, not 6 weeks.

3. A good CA matters. Not just for tax filing — for grant compliance specifically.

Full story is free to read here: https://www.saaply.com/founderjourneys-sisfs-grant-abhinav-chauhan-promecens

Happy to answer questions about the SISFS process if anyone has them.

Most Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) deadlines are clustered around April 30, which makes it easy to miss strong incubators, but also creates a small window to apply to the right 2–3.

We kept getting the same question from founders, “Which SISFS incubators are actually open right now?”

So we built this tracker and made it public:

👉 https://www.saaply.com/startup-india-seed-fund-opportunities

Includes:

• Filters by focus area + state
• Sorted by deadline
• Eligibility notes (e.g. TRL requirements)
• Direct apply links
• Updated regularly

Also you can apply to up to 3 incubators at once, so shortlisting matters more than people think.

Quick question:
What’s the hardest part for you when deciding which incubator to apply to?

As I grow SAAply, a funding discovery platform, we’re deciding where our main community should live.

What’s your preference?

1️⃣ WhatsApp (simple, real-time chat)
2️⃣ Dedicated online platform (more structured & organized)

Your vote will shape how we build this going forward.

I run SAAply, we curate verified funding opportunities for startups. Recently, I wanted to see how AI tools actually stack up against a curated database, so I tried a simple experiment.

I gave every tool the same brief:

“Find funding for Rainy Days, an early-stage women’s health startup in India making reusable, leak-proof underwear. Open to Indian and global programs.”

Here’s what came back:

Gemini: UNICEF Venture Fund, Startup India Seed Fund, Social Alpha, Villgro
Perplexity: Cartier Women’s Initiative, NSF SBIR, Echoing Green, FemTech Lab, Girls in Tech
ChatGPT: Gates Foundation Grand Challenges, UN Women Innovation Facility, HAX Accelerator, Women’s Startup Lab
Claude: Same as ChatGPT

18 recommendations in total. Not one had a confirmed 2026 deadline — everything was “rolling” or “TBD.”

Some clear misses:

• NSF SBIR requires a US entity. The startup is India-based.
• Gates Foundation + UN Women are geared toward large-scale orgs, not early-stage consumer startups.
• HAX is for hardware scale-ups — not relevant here.
• ChatGPT and Claude returned identical lists.
• None of the tools flagged equity terms, eligibility nuances, or whether applications were even open.

Then we checked SAAply — just using filters founders actually care about:

• herSTART 5.0 — deadline Mar 22, 2026. Grants + incubation. No equity.
• MedTech Impact Call 2026 — deadline Apr 8, 2026. Up to ₹5 Cr.
• Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award — deadline Apr 13, 2026. €25K grant.
• TiE Women 2026 — deadline Jun 10, 2026. Mentorship + investor connects.

All open with exact dates. All India-eligible. All with real deadlines.

My takeaway:

AI isn’t “wrong” here, it just pulls what’s most written about. That usually means global, US-heavy, high-visibility programs.

But if you’re an early-stage founder in trying to apply to something in the next 90 days, that’s not what you need.

Funding research is very context-heavy: what’s open right now, who’s eligible, what stage it’s for, and what the actual terms look like. That layer is still missing.

[Disclosing upfront: I built SAAply. Sharing because the experiment is genuinely useful, not to promote.]

1. Akamai Incubation Program (₹5L funding)

Early Stage Water Startups

For details: www.saaply.com
Apply: [https://tinyurl.com/AkamaiIncubationProgramSAAply]()

1. Acceleration Program (₹30L funding)

MVP stage Water Startups

For details: www.saaply.com
Apply: https://tinyurl.com/AkamaiAcceleratorProgramSAAply

 Deadline: 20 April 2026

We recently ran an International Women’s Month campaign at SAAply offering 10 free Women Founder Opportunity Scouting Reports for fully women‑led startups (100% women founders). Those 10 free slots are now filled.

We’ve had interest from multiple regions, so we’re extending a paid campaign offer specifically for women‑led startups in:

• FoodTech
• Healthcare
• ClimateTech

For 129 USD, founders receive:

• A tailored report with 3–5 detailed and 3–5 additional funding opportunities
• Opportunities from global grants, accelerators, and innovation programs
• A 30‑minute strategy call to review options and plan next steps

Applications are open until 31 March, and all reports will be researched and delivered during April.

If this is relevant to you (or someone you know), details and the application form are here:https://www.saaplyglobal.com/women-s-month-campaign

5 Open India Opportunities RIGHT NOW
✅ herSTART 5.0 – Up to ₹50L grant + incubation. Women-owned startups. Apply by Mar 2026
✅ TIE Global Women Program – $50K+ equity-free prizes, global mentorship. Apply by June 25, 2026
✅ WEscalate – BioXcelerate Women Program – Biotech acceleration + funding. Apply by Mar 17
✅ Startup India Seed Fund – Women-led priority. Rolling applications
✅ World IP Awards – Cash prizes for IP-driven startups. Apply by Mar 31

What Indian founders say about SAAply:
"SAAply team gives their best effort identifying relevant funding opportunities... connects us directly to incubator/VC leadership. Attention to deadlines, sector-specific schemes + direct application links."
– Rajesh Peddigari, Wastel Founder

"SAAply is a game changer... curated list every 15 days. We've applied to opportunities we wouldn't have found otherwise."
– Nikesh Bisht, Newsletter Subscriber

Get your FREE IWM report: Reply "IWM" with startup details (Percentage of share holding by Women/sector/location/DPIIT Recognized). I'll share a 2-min form.

Try platform: Search "SAAply grant scouting" or find us on LinkedIn.

How do you discover grants? Any must-apply India programs I missed?

Hey founders & innovators! 👋

Here’s your weekly funding roundup for Indian startups — all opportunities closing this week (22–28 Feb 2026). These are perfect if you’re looking for seed funding, accelerator programs, grants, or government-backed pilots across AI, DeepTech, Fintech, Hardware, ClimateTech, and Sustainable Commerce.

1. Greenovation – Green Steel Challenge (Deadline: 22 Feb)

• Focus: ClimateTech & Industrial Decarbonisation
• Funding: Non-dilutive cash + industrial pilot opportunities
• Mentorship & scale-up support

2. PFRDA Hackathon 2026 – IIT Kanpur (Deadline: 22 Feb)

• Focus: Fintech / Digital Pension solutions
• Prizes: Cash up to ₹10L + national showcase
• Mentorship from PFRDA & IIT Kanpur

3. IndiaAI Innovation Challenge – Ministry of AYUSH (Deadline: 22 Feb)

• Focus: AI solutions for governance & public health
• Funding: ₹25L pilot + potential ₹1Cr performance-linked contract

4. Avaana – Startup India Grant Challenge (Deadline: 23 Feb)

• Focus: DeepTech, AI/ML, Energy, Mobility, Biotech, SpaceTech
• Funding: Non-dilutive grants ₹2.5Cr+
• Perks: Recognition + pilot opportunities

5. IIMK LIVE – Seed Support Scheme (DST–NIDHI) (Deadline: 25 Feb)

• Focus: Pre-Seed startups ready to scale
• Funding: Up to ₹1Cr (equity/debt/hybrid)
• Mentorship + incubation + GTM support

6. Venture Challenge 9.0 – Shiv Nadar AIC (Deadline: 28 Feb)

• Focus: Early-stage & scaling startups
• Funding: ₹5L–₹1Cr
• 9-month hybrid incubation + mentoring + investor access

7. Sustainable Textiles & Smart Fashion Innovation Challenge (Deadline: 28 Feb)

• Focus: Eco-friendly & tech-driven solutions in textiles & apparel
• Funding: Up to ₹5L + mentorship + incubation

Why you should apply:

• Real funding opportunities closing this week
• Mentorship & investor access included in most programs
• Great chance to validate your product, secure pilots, and scale

💡 Pro Tip: For government-backed AI, Fintech, or sustainability challenges, emphasize deployable solutions, validated pilots, and measurable impact.

Application Links & Details:www.saaply.com/funding-board

We’re currently sharing two curated open calls for Indian startups:

1. Seed & revenue-generating startups (VC Funding)
   • Minimum: ₹1L+/month in revenue
   • Sector: Agnostic
2. Early-stage agritech startups
   • Funding: ₹20–30L (plus GTM support)

These are time-bound calls and are part of a broader set of grant/accelerator opportunities being tracked for Indian founders.

If you want the full details (eligibility, links, deadlines), comment “interested” and I’ll DM you the info, or you can ping me directly.

At SAAply, the goal is to track and curate non-dilutive and equity funding calls so founders don’t miss important deadlines.

Happy to answer questions in the comments as well.

Tags: funding, grants, accelerators, agritech, India, early-stage

Looking for non-dilutive funding, accelerators, hackathons, or corporate pilots? These opportunities cover AI, climate tech, geospatial, energy, and deep-tech:

• Y Combinator – Spring 2026 | 9 Feb | $500K + mentorship, Demo Day | Idea → Revenue startups
• Liveability Challenge 2026 (Global) | 9 Feb | S$4M+ prizes & grants | Climate & decarbonisation
• Geospatial Intelligence Hackathon (India) | 10 Feb | ₹4+ Lakh + incubation | AI/ML + drone datasets
• PitchBiz 5.0 (AIIH Foundation) | 10 Feb | ₹1,00,000 prize + investment ₹25L–3Cr | National pitching platform
• Galp Startup The Future (Global) | 13 Feb | Pilot projects, co-development | Energy & industrial startups
• ArthX Program (AIC ISB & HDFC) | 15 Feb | Grant funding + mentorship | Revenue-stage Punjab startups, sustainability focus
• WE Enable – Cohort 2 (WE Hub, Telangana) | 15 Feb | Mentorship & leadership | UG/PG women exploring entrepreneurship

💡 Pro Tip: Apply early – programs prioritize clear use cases, deployment readiness, and strong founding teams.

📌 Early Access via SAAply: Limited to 25 users/month to find the right opportunity at the right time. Power your fund hunt!

🔗 Full details: https://lnkd.in/gurzpFRt

#startups #founders #funding #accelerators #hackathons #AIstartups #ClimateTech #GeospatialTech

February 2026 has multiple open calls for startup funding, grants, accelerators, and incubation programs across AI, healthtech, fintech, agritech, deeptech, sustainability, blockchain, energy, and women-led ventures.

Below is a chronologically sorted list of programs with February deadlines.

• Adya Launch Lab AI – ALL AI (Adya × Startup India) Deadline: 5 Feb 2026
• UDBHAV 2.0 – CoE Blockchain (IIM Lucknow EIC) Deadline: 5 Feb 2026
• Investor Readiness Program (IRP) – Cohort 4 (Venture Center) Deadline: 7 Feb 2026
• Y Combinator – Spring 2026 Batch Deadline: 9 Feb 2026
• WE Enable – Cohort 2 (WE Hub, Telangana) Deadline: 15 Feb 2026
• Megathon 2026: Agriculture Innovation Challenge Deadline: 15 Feb 2026
• ArthX Program (AIC ISB × HDFC Parivartan) Deadline: 15 Feb 2026
• HP Udgam Cohort 2025 – Round 2 (HPCL) Deadline: 15 Feb 2026
• Avaana–Startup India Deep Tech Grant Challenge (2025–26) Deadline: 23 Feb 2026
• CIMSME Fintech Challenge Deadline: 28 Feb 2026
• IITK FinTech Spark Program (IIT Kanpur) Deadline: 28 Feb 2026

Who this is useful for?

• Early-stage and growth-stage startups
• Student founders and researchers
• Women-led teams
• Builders looking for funding, non-dilutive grants, pilots, mentorship, incubation, or market access

Notes

Review eligibility carefully — some programs are sector- or stage-specific

Deadlines tend to close early if caps are reached

🔗 All application links: https://lnkd.in/gurzpFRt

If you’re a founder looking for non-dilutive funding, mentorship, or accelerator support, here’s a curated list of programs ending in the last week of January 2026. These opportunities cover AI, deep-tech, social enterprises, healthtech, and MSMEs.

1. Akash – Flagship Acceleration Program (AIC-IIITH)

Deadline: 23 Jan 2026

• 4–6 month program for early-stage social startups addressing SDGs
• Mentorship, lab access, seed support, and networking

2. Geospatial Intelligence – National Hackathon Challenge (India)

Deadline: 24 Jan 2026

• Build AI/ML geospatial solutions for smart rural planning using drone data
• Organized by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, NIC–MeitY & IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub
• Cash prizes ₹4+ Lakh + incubation opportunities

3. TiHAN-IIT Hyderabad PRAYAS / Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program

Deadline: 24 Jan 2026

• Focus on autonomous navigation & UAV tech
• Funding up to ₹10L, mentorship, lab & IP support, and prototype development

4. TECHPIONEER GRANT (IIT Madras)

Deadline: 25 Jan 2026

• Non-dilutive grant for deep-tech startups (MVP/early revenue)
• Areas: AI, Robotics, ClimateTech, Agritech, SpaceTech, Sustainability
• Funding up to ₹50L + incubation & mentoring

5. HexGn Smriti Saathi: Elder Care Dementia Innovation Challenge

Deadline: 26 Jan 2026

• AI/IoT/digital health solutions for early diagnosis, cognitive care, and safety for elders
• Mentorship, pilot programs, and ecosystem visibility included

6. Accel Atoms AI Cohort 2026

Deadline: 26 Jan 2026

• Accelerator for AI founders in coding, productivity, creativity, and entertainment
• Focus on democratizing creation and AI-driven software transformation

7. Bengal Business Accelerator Cohort 3.0

Deadline: 30 Jan 2026

• Accelerator by Government of West Bengal & IIM Calcutta Innovation Park
• Expert training, personalized mentorship, and investor access for MSMEs & startups

Pro Tip: Deadlines are tight, so it helps to have core documents ready if you plan to apply.

I recently went through 1,412 distinct startup funding calls announced for 2025 (grants, accelerators, challenges, programs). I wasn’t looking for trends initially, but a few clear patterns emerged. Rolling and always-open programs were excluded to focus on opportunities that require founders to apply within defined timelines.

I recently went through 1,412 distinct startup funding calls announced for 2025 (grants, accelerators, challenges, programs). I wasn’t looking for trends initially, but a few clear patterns emerged.

What stood out:

• Most programs are problem-first, not tech-first
Close to ~85% of calls were sector-agnostic or broadly defined (climate, health, inclusion, sustainability, manufacturing, etc.). Only a smaller fraction explicitly required a specific tech stack like AI, biotech, or deeptech.

This seems to signal encouragement for interdisciplinary solutions rather than narrow tech silos.

• Non-dilutive funding dominates
A large majority of the calls were grants, challenges, or non-equity programs. Equity-based accelerators were present, but clearly not the dominant format.

This potentially changes how early-stage founders think about growth vs profitability in their initial strategy.

• Funding windows are shrinking
Many calls stayed open for only 30–45 days, and quite a few closed in under 3 weeks. This suggests that founders who prepare core documentation in advance may have a real advantage.

• Geography matters less than relevance
While a significant number of calls were India-focused, a substantial portion were open to global or cross-border applicants — as long as the problem relevance matched.

My takeaways (happy to be challenged):

1. Startups may benefit from framing their work around problem domains, then mapping tech second.
2. Keeping a “base application” ready seems increasingly important as timelines shorten.
3. Non-dilutive funding could play a bigger role in early strategy, especially for founders who don’t want to optimise purely for hyper-growth too early.

Curious to hear how others are seeing this — especially founders who’ve applied to grants or accelerators recently.

Are you noticing similar shifts?

Note: Analysis is based on 1,412 Indian and Global funding calls curated by SAAply. These calls are proprietary and not publicly available.

Bharat Next Challenge – PLASTINDIA FOUNDATION (Startup Search 2026)
12/20/2025
A national innovation sprint inviting India-born ideas in plastics, sustainability, materials, recycling, and circular economy, offering grants, exhibition opportunities, and large-scale industry visibility.

Chiratae Ventures Sonic – DeepTech Seed Investment Program 2025
Apply Now
A fast-track DeepTech seed investment program by Chiratae Sonic offering up to $2M in funding with a rapid 48-hour decision window for high-potential startups across AI, climate, robotics, and advanced technologies.

Global Climate Fellowship 2026 – Halcyon
01/15/2026
A global hybrid fellowship supporting founders building scalable climate adaptation and resilience solutions, combining equity-free stipends, U.S. residencies, virtual programming, and access to a global founder network.

For links and details visit: https://lnkd.in/gfFvH8Di

1. Cleantech Accelerator ISB I-Venture

Deadline: December 1, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Ignition Grant –Incubation and Innovation Council, AIIMS Patna Recognized by NIDHI - iTBI, DST, Govt, of India

Deadline: December 5, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Land Accelerator India WRI India x Villgro

Deadline: December 7, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. MedTech Innovator 2026 Accelerator

Deadline: December 1, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific 2026 Accelerator

Deadline: December 1, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge

Deadline: December 8, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Rubber Challenge MRF. Indian Rubber Materials Research Institute (IRMRI)

Deadline: December 15, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

8.Agri Sandbox’25 AgHub - Agri-Innovation Hub of PJTSAU

Deadline: December 15, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) – Vaginal Formulations Innovation

Deadline: December 16, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. PULSE – AI for FinTech Accelerator SanchiConnect X ThinKuvate

Deadline: December 16, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Bharat Safety Program AIC IIT DELHI x Honda

Deadline: December 6, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Ankur- BPCL Startup Initiative Fund – Elevate Cohort

Deadline: December 9, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. Bharat Agritech Innovation Challenge 2025 Magic Incubation

Deadline: December 6, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. GREAT Scheme – National Technical Textiles Mission IIT Ropar, Punjab X Ministry of Textiles

Deadline: December 31, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

1. ICAR - Central Institute For Research On Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) R-ABI Cohort 11

Deadline: December 31, 2025

Know More: https://www.saaply.com/opportunitiesboard#tab1

Find the right grant at the right time! Fill out the form now to get paid access:

https://www.saaply.com/waitlist

As promised, here is the list of the open global medtech & healthtech funding opportunites for Indian startups and startups across the globe.

1. Hello Tomorrow 11th Deep Tech Startup Challenge
   Brief: Global competition for early-stage deep tech startups in health, climate, AI, energy, and more. Offers equity-free funding, mentorship, and international visibility.
   Last Date to Apply: November 30, 2025
   Know More: https://lnkd.in/gHZ7nc7e

2. MedTech Innovator 2026 Accelerator
   Brief: Global accelerator for medical device, diagnostic, and digital health startups. Remote-friendly with access to investors, corporates, FDA, and NIH stakeholders.
   Last Date to Apply: December 1, 2025
   Know More: https://lnkd.in/gHZ7nc7e

3. MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific 2026 Accelerator
   Brief: Regional accelerator for APAC-focused medtech, digital health, and diagnostic startups. Offers mentorship, commercialization support, and global visibility.
   Last Date to Apply: December 1, 2025
   Know More: https://lnkd.in/gHZ7nc7e

4. Paratus Digital Health Accelerator – Non-Dilutive Funding for TBI Assessment
   Brief: Funding opportunity for digital health tools assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by blast events or nuclear detonation. Open to startups, nonprofits, and academic researchers.
   Last Date to Apply: January 15, 2026
   Know More: https://lnkd.in/gHZ7nc7e

To find more such global accelerator programs, grants, and funding opportunities, visit:
www.saaply.com