• Consolidation of startup related schemes and assets of MeitY for greater efficiency, asset utilization and enhanced support for startups.
• Provide Tier-II/ III cities focused funding to critically support Pilot/ Investment, Early-stage and deep-tech startups.
• Strengthening Incubators, building stronger startup ecosystem via capacity building initiatives in Tier II/ III cities.

The GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Program under MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), supports early-stage innovators and startups from Tier II and III cities in electronics, IT, and deeptech. These guidelines provide a standardized framework for eligibility, selection, funding, and reporting to ensure transparent and uniform implementation across all India

1. Only Indian citizens may apply.
2. Applicants must be full-time UG/PG students with entrepreneurial pursuits or founders/co-founders of DPIIT-registered startups (≤ 2 years old).
3. The EiR must be physically incubated at your centre.
4. Only applicants from Tier II & III cities are eligible.
5. Must not have received significant external funding (exceeding ₹10 lakh, including government grants).
6. Must not have been previously supported under any MeitY Schemes.
7. Applicants must be working on innovations at the stage of Ideation, Concept Development, Validation / Problem-Solution Fit, Proof of Concept (PoC), or Prototyping/Working Prototype in order to be considered for support under the GENESIS EiR program.
8. The applicant must be committed to working full-time on the proposed startup idea during the EiR program duration.
9. EiRs working in following sector must only be considered to be eligible for EiR grant  Electronic design and manufacturing  Deeptech software and product  ICT space Using following technology:  AI / ML  IoT  VLSI / Semiconductor  Cybersecurity  Blockchain  Quantum computing  AR / VR / Spatial and Immersive tech o EiR support will be extended only once under GENESIS.

The PILOT Component under GENESIS is designed to enable startups, particularly from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, to validate and demonstrate their market-ready solutions through pilot projects with corporates, PSUs, and large enterprises.By facilitating structured pilot engagements, the scheme aims to:

• Bridge the gap between Minimum Viable Product and commercialization.
• Provide startups with credibility, and revenue traction.
• Encourage corporates and PSUs to engage with emerging technologies.
• Strengthen industry–startup collaboration in ICT, AI, electronic manufacturing, and deeptech products.
• Align with GENESIS’s vision of digitization, inclusivity, employment generation, andeconomic growth.

For Corporates (Pilot Partners):

• Minimum turnover of ₹75 crore+ in the last audited financial year.
• At least 5 years of operations.
• Preference: Govt of India/State govt./PSUs, Fortune 500 companies, large corporates (Indian/Global), unicorn startups.

For Startups:

• Must be a DPIIT registered startup.
• Should be working in ICT-related domains: IT & AI, electronic design & manufacturing, tech/deeptech products.
• Must have: MVP/working prototype, viable business plan, full-time founder/Co-founder, Must have a Pilot work order/ Purchase order from eligible corporate/PSU/unicorn.

• This program aims to accelerate the growth of startups with validated solutions and a proof of concept.
• The goal is to help them raise investments from venture capitalists and angel investors and scale up by connecting them with customers, investors, and global markets.

• Support the scaling of innovative startups that solve persistent problems in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
• Provide essential services like mentorship, networking, customer connections, investor connections, and internationalization support.

To be eligible for the program, a startup must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a registered Indian entity (Private Limited Company) with at least 51% Indian ownership.
• Must be registered in a Tier-II or Tier-III city.
• Must have a valid DPIIT certificate.
• Should work on a tech-based product/software in domains like Deep-tech, AI/ML, Cybersecurity, IoT, Blockchain, Fintech, Ed-tech, or Health-tech.
• Must have a market-ready product and preferably be revenue-generating.
• Preference is given to startups with granted patents.
• Must not be involved in any legal disputes.
• Funding is a 1:1 matching grant ranging from up to 50 lakhs based on external funds raised (government grants are not considered).
• Cannot be a startup previously supported under the TIDE 2.0 (Scale up) or Samridh schemes.
• The funding instrument is equity

• Financial Assistance: Funding support of upto INR up to 50 Lakhs for prototype development, product creation, and scaling.
• Mentorship: Access to industry leaders and experts for guidance and technical assistance.
• Infrastructure & Lab Support: State-of-the-art facilities, including co-working spaces, labs, and testing centres.
• Networking Opportunities: Platforms to connect with investors, corporates, and government bodies.
• Training Programs: Workshops, bootcamps, and courses for skill enhancement.