NIDHI – Seed Support Program (SSP)

NIDHI – Seed Support
Program (SSP)

Overview

The NIDHI–Seed Support Program (SSP) is an initiative of the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.
It provides financial assistance to startups incubated at recognized Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) for converting their innovative ideas into commercially viable products.
This program acts as a bridge between prototype stage and market launch, helping early-stage startups scale faster by addressing the funding gap they usually face after initial prototyping and before large-scale investments.

Objectives

  • To provide early-stage funding to promising startups for product development, testing, and scaling.
  • To ensure innovative startups have the required financial support for reaching markets.
  • To enable incubators to play an active role in nurturing startups beyond mentoring and infrastructure.
  • To support startups in activities such as prototype completion, product trials, IP protection, team building, and go-to-market.
  • To reduce the risk of early-stage entrepreneurship and improve survival chances of startups.

Offerings

For Startups
  • Seed Funding Support: Financial assistance up to ₹100 lakhs per startup (typically ₹10–25 lakhs).
  • Mode of Support: Equity, soft loan, or equity-linked instruments.
Usage of Funds:
  • Product development & testing
  • Prototype completion
  • Market entry & scaling-up activities
  • Technology validation
  • IP protection (patents, trademarks)
  • Mentoring & team hiring
  • Exclusions: Funds cannot be used for loan repayment, buying land/buildings, personal assets, or speculative investments.

Eligibility

For Startups
  • Must be an Indian startup/company incorporated as a Private Limited Company, LLP, or Registered Partnership.
  • Should be incubated at a recognized NIDHI-TBI for at least 3 months (physical or virtual).
  • Must be working on an innovative, technology-based idea with potential for commercialization.
  • Should not have raised significant external funding (except small grants).
  • Promoters must be Indian citizens holding a majority share.

Selection Process

Application through TBI:

  1. Startups apply to their host TBI when calls are announced.

Screening by TBI:

  1. Initial review of eligibility and proposal.

Evaluation by SSMC (Seed Support Management Committee):

  1. Members include incubator head, DST nominee, industry experts, bankers, VCs, successful entrepreneurs.
  2. Evaluates on innovation, team strength, scalability, and fund utilization plan.

Approval & Agreement:

  1. Selected startups sign a legal agreement with the TBI.
  2. Terms cover milestones, fund utilization, and repayment/equity obligations.

Disbursement:

  1. Funds released in tranches linked to milestone achievements.
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