NIDHI – Technology Business Incubator
DST funding to institutions that set up and run Technology Business Incubators — the network startups then get incubated into.
What you get
Incubator-level support; generally multi-crore per DST approval
Nodal ministry
Department of Science & Technology (DST)
Support type
Incubation
Best suited for
Ideation · Prototype / PoC · Seed / Early Stage
Typical timeline
Proposals in the prescribed proforma at nidhi.dst.gov.in
What this scheme actually is
NIDHI-TBI funds the incubator, not the startup — but it matters enormously to founders because the TBI network it created is the gateway to NIDHI-SSP seed capital, PRAYAS prototyping grants and the EIR fellowship. Knowing which TBIs are DST-supported, and getting incubated at one, is the practical entry point to a whole family of schemes.
What the scheme sets out to do
Who can apply
What you get
How to apply, step by step
- 1
For startups: find and join a NIDHI TBI
The DST portal lists supported TBIs. Incubation at one is what makes you eligible for NIDHI-SSP seed funding and other NIDHI components.
- 2
For institutions: submit the proposal in the prescribed proforma
Available at nidhi.dst.gov.in, with the infrastructure, team and pipeline commitments DST expects.
- 3
Structure the incubator entity correctly
A not-for-profit society, trust or Section 8 company is required for a non-academic applicant. Get the structure right before applying.
What we actually do on a NIDHI-TBI 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.