Karnataka's flagship startup grant programme, ELEVATE, has hit a decade-long milestone, and the state is marking the occasion by throwing its doors open wider than ever before.
The Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka, on Tuesday announced the 25th call for applications under ELEVATE, the Grant-in-Aid programme it launched in 2017. Online applications open on May 25, 2026, inviting early-stage founders from every corner of the state to compete for one of Karnataka's most sought-after startup grants.
The headline change this year: for the first time, the government has opened all four ELEVATE tracks simultaneously, a move designed to make the programme more inclusive, accessible, and genuinely statewide.
A ₹50 lakh launchpad for early-stage ideas
At its core, ELEVATE offers a one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh, giving startups the runway to build prototypes, validate proof-of-concept solutions, and scale promising innovations. It targets the make-or-break phase where many young ventures stall for lack of capital.
But the grant is only part of the package. Selected startups also gain access to mentorship, incubation facilities, networking opportunities, and links to government-backed Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and Technology Business Incubators (TBIs). Because the programme is aligned with the Karnataka Startup Policy 2022–27, founders can additionally tap incentives such as reimbursements for patent costs, marketing spends, GST, and quality certification.
Four tracks, one mission
This year's edition is built around four distinct tracks, each targeting a different slice of the entrepreneurial landscape:
- ELEVATE – General: open to startups across all sectors.
- ELEVATE Shakti (formerly ELEVATE Women): for ventures with at least 51% women ownership.
- ELEVATE Unnati: focused on SC/ST founders to widen the entrepreneurship pipeline.
- ELEVATE Aspire (formerly ELEVATE Beyond Bengaluru): aimed at innovators in Karnataka's Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions.
The rebranding of two tracks, along with the decision to run all four at once, signals a clear intent to push opportunity beyond the usual circles of capital and connections.
A decade of measurable impact
Over ten years, ELEVATE has grown from an experiment into a cornerstone of Karnataka's innovation economy. Across 24 completed calls, the programme has:
- Supported over 1,250 startups
- Committed roughly ₹292.57 crore in grants
- Backed 330 women-led ventures with ₹77.39 crore
- Funded 464 startups from Beyond Bengaluru regions with ₹102.89 crore
Those last two figures matter. Nearly a third of every rupee committed has flowed to women founders and ventures outside the state capital, evidence that the programme's inclusivity goals are translating into real disbursements, not just intent.
'Transforming ideas into scalable solutions'
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, framed the 25th call as a turning point.
"As we celebrate 10 years of ELEVATE, we are proud of the impact it has created, supporting over 1,200 startups and unlocking innovation across Karnataka," he said. "This 25th call is particularly significant as we bring together four tracks for the first time, ensuring that opportunity is more inclusive, accessible, and statewide. ELEVATE continues to be a powerful platform that transforms ideas into scalable solutions and strengthens Karnataka's position as the startup capital of India."
How to apply
Eligible startups can submit applications through the official portal from May 25, 2026. The programme continues to prioritise early-stage innovation, broader access to funding, and a stronger startup ecosystem spanning every region and community in the state.
For founders sitting on a prototype-stage idea, the message from Bengaluru is straightforward: the window is open, and this year it is open to more of you than ever.
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