GeM Startup Runway
A dedicated window on GeM that lets startups sell innovative products to government buyers — with the turnover, prior-experience and EMD walls removed.
What you get
No grant — access to the entire central and state government procurement market
Nodal ministry
Department of Commerce
Support type
Market Access
Best suited for
Seed / Early Stage · Growth / Scaling · Market Access & IP
Typical timeline
Listing in days once GeM seller registration is complete
What this scheme actually is
Government procurement is the largest B2B market in India and it is normally closed to young companies by prior-turnover and prior-experience conditions. The Startup Runway removes exactly those conditions for DPIIT-recognised startups, and creates listing categories for innovative products that do not fit any existing GeM catalogue. For a hardware or deep-tech startup, one government order can be a bigger unlock than a seed round.
Implementing agency: Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
What the scheme sets out to do
Who can apply
What you get
Documents to have ready
How to apply, step by step
- 1
Complete the compliance base
GeM seller onboarding needs a live GSTIN, PAN, bank account in the entity's name and Udyam where you want MSME preference. Get these clean first — GeM validates against the source systems.
- 2
Register as a seller on GeM
Create the seller account with the authorised signatory's Aadhaar-linked mobile for OTP, and complete the organisational profile and vendor assessment where required for your category.
- 3
Claim the Startup Runway benefits
Link the DPIIT recognition to the seller profile so the turnover, prior-experience and EMD exemptions apply to bids you participate in.
- 4
List the product — including under Startup Runway categories
Map to an existing category where one fits. Where nothing fits, use the Startup Runway route to list an innovative product without forcing it into the wrong catalogue.
- 5
Bid, fulfil and build a track record
Watch bids in your category, respond within the window and deliver on time. A clean fulfilment history on GeM compounds — it is what wins the second and third order.
What we actually do on a scheme mandate
Services this usually needs
No consultant can guarantee a sanction — that decision sits with the evaluating committee, bank or incubator. We commit to an honest eligibility view, an application built to the evaluator’s format, filing inside the window and a documented follow-up cadence. That is stated in every engagement letter we sign.