Pune: In a significant boost to India’s innovation ecosystem, Venture Center, one of India’s premier technology business incubators, has announced the call for applications for two major seed funding programs: the TDB Seed Fund and the NIDHI-SSS Fund.
Venture Center seed funding initiatives are designed to support promising tech startups on their journey from prototype to commercialization.
Entrepreneurs and startups can apply for Venture Center seed funding by June 23, 2025, through this official link: https://lnkd.in/gjNVFnRz
Venture Center Seed Funding Program Details:
TDB Seed Fund – Up to ₹25 lakh
Hosted under the Seed Support System for Start-ups in Incubators by the Technology Development Board (TDB), DST, this ₹1 crore seed corpus provides critical early-stage capital to product-based tech startups with strong IP and knowledge components.
Eligible ventures must:
- Be registered as Indian private limited companies with at least 51% Indian ownership.
- Be incubated (or willing to be incubated) at Venture Center.
- Demonstrate proof-of-concept and scalability potential.
- Submit a formal business plan and pitch deck.
Funding covers:
- Product development, prototyping, trials
- IP filings, regulatory certifications
- Mentoring and expert consultations
- Team support and operational costs
Also Read: MeitY TIDE 2.0 EIR Program Offers Funding and Incubation for DeepTech Startups
NIDHI-SSS Seed Fund – Up to ₹1 crore
Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations, the ₹10 crore NIDHI-SSS Fund is aimed at supporting incubated startups with market-ready innovations and helping them bridge the gap between development and institutional investment.
Eligibility requires:
- Minimum 51% Indian shareholding and Indian registration
- Full-time commitment by the founding team
- Strong technology innovation and market fit
- Willingness to share equity and comply with ethical and EHS standards
Funding supports:
- Test marketing, certifications, mentoring
- Engagement of faculty experts
- IPR support and team hiring
- Any activities crucial to product-market readiness
Common Features:
- Both funds operate via equity investment in the startup
- Venture Center will have board representation or observer rights
- Startups must present biannual updates to the Seed Fund Committee
- Applicants must be resident or willing-to-be-resident incubatees at Venture Center
Also Read: IndusInd Bank Partners with IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre to Empower Startups
These Venture Center seed funding programs are sector-agnostic but prioritize deep-tech, IP-rich, and product-oriented ventures. Ideal applicants should demonstrate strong value propositions, a clear commercialization path, and long-term market potential.
