National Startup Awards 5.0: Last Chance to Apply and Win Big

National Startup Awards

New Delhi: The National Startup Awards 5.0 (NSA 5.0), India’s premier recognition platform for high-impact startups, is nearing its final application deadline of 31st July 2025.

Organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Startup India initiative, National Startup Awards 5.0 aims to honor startups that demonstrate excellence in innovation, scalability, and measurable social or economic impact.

With ₹10 lakh in prize money for winners in each of the 20 award categories, NSA 5.0 also offers a powerful ecosystem boost – curated support through mentorship, investor and government connects, market access, and priority participation in global startup events where DPIIT is present.

Also Read: Food Processing Startup Grand Challenge Offers INR 4 Lakh Prize for Top Innovations

Recognizing Innovation and Impact Across Diverse Sectors

This fifth edition builds on the success of past awards by widening the scope to include 20 new categories that reflect India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. Startups from across industries are invited to apply – provided they are DPIIT-recognized and registered on the Bharat Registry.

“NSA 5.0 is more than an award – it’s a national platform to scale disruptive ideas. Winners will not only receive monetary recognition but also long-term handholding support from the ecosystem,” a DPIIT spokesperson stated.

Key Benefits for National Startup Awards 5.0 Winners and Finalists:
  • Cash prize of ₹10 lakh for each general category winner
  • National and international visibility
  • Exclusive access to government schemes, pilots, and corporate partnerships
  • Curated mentorship from domain experts and investors
  • Participation priority in events with DPIIT involvement

Eligibility Highlights:

  • Must be a DPIIT-recognized startup
  • Must have a market-ready product or process
  • Should not have completed 10 years since incorporation
  • Required to submit audited financials for the past 3 years or provisional CA-certified statements for FY 2024–25
  • Startups can apply under a maximum of two categories. Previous NSA winners are ineligible to reapply.

Also Read: STPI MedTech CoE Facilitates INR 70 Lakh Funding Opportunity for Startups

How to Apply:

  • Register on the Startup India portal and obtain DPIIT recognition.
  • Go to the National Startup Awards section and click ‘Apply for NSA 5.0’.
  • Complete the application form and upload the required documents, including a 120-second explainer video, pitch deck, and other key credentials.
  • Applicants must ensure compliance with the file size limits and document format guidelines before submitting.

Deadline: July 31, 2025

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain national recognition, investor exposure, and operational support for your startup’s growth journey. Click here to apply for National Startup Awards 5.0.

Author

  • Salil Urunkar

    Salil Urunkar is a senior journalist and the editorial mind behind Sahyadri Startups. With years of experience covering Pune’s entrepreneurial rise, he’s passionate about telling the real stories of founders, disruptors, and game-changers.

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