MeitY GENESIS Pilot 2.0 – Pilot Funding Programme

About

GENESIS Pilot 2.0 offers DPIIT-recognised Indian startups from Tier-II and Tier-III cities up to ₹40 lakh to execute eligible pilot projects with corporates, PSUs or large enterprises, subject to a 3% equity cap.

Benefits

• 💰Pilot funding
  Up to ₹40 lakh per startup based on verified cost of delivering the approved Pilot PO/WO
• 🤝Structured pilot engagement
  Support to execute pilot projects with corporates, PSUs and large enterprises, helping startups gain industry access, credibility and early revenue traction
• 📉Equity cap
  Equity allotted to the Implementing Agency on behalf of MSH is capped at 3% of fully diluted post-money shareholding

Eligibility Criteria

• DPIIT-recognised startup incorporated in a Tier-II or Tier-III city in India
• 1–5 years old with Indian founders holding at least 51%
• Must have an MVP or working prototype and at least one full-time founder
• Must hold a valid Pilot PO/WO of ₹1 lakh–₹1 crore from an eligible independent Pilot Partner, covering deployment of the startup’s own product; the partner must be a government body, PSU, Fortune 500 company, unicorn or other reputed enterprise with at least ₹75 crore turnover in the last audited financial year, at least 5 years of operations and must not be a related party
• Cumulative revenue must not exceed ₹1.5 crore
• Prior government funding must not exceed ₹40 lakh and prior private funding must not exceed ₹1.5 crore
• Beneficiaries of TIDE 2.0 (Scale-up), SAMRIDH or the GENESIS Investment Component, and startups in an ongoing GENESIS EIR cohort, are not eligible

Participation Commitments

• Applications must be submitted by 30 October 2026
• Applicants must provide a binding PO/WO signed by an authorised signatory stating scope, deliverables, value, duration and payment terms; an LoI/MoU is accepted at application, but a binding PO/WO is required before the MSH EC meeting
• The PO/WO must be dated within three months before the call opens and have at least three months of delivery remaining
• Application documentation includes certificate of incorporation, DPIIT recognition, founder/team profiles, IP certificates if any, pitch deck and a copy of the valid PO/WO
• Shortlisted startups must present to the Expert Committee for final recommendation
• Selected startups must allot equity to the Implementing Agency on behalf of MSH, capped at 3% of fully diluted post-money shareholding
• Valuation must be determined by a SEBI-registered Merchant Banker or IBBI-registered Valuer, with a report dated within six months before application
• Funds must be used strictly for pilot implementation, and progress and financial reports must be submitted to MSH
• Fund disbursement may take 4–5 months from call of application

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

India; applicant startups must be incorporated in a Tier-II or Tier-III city and have Indian founders holding at least 51%.