Ready to Rise

About the programme

Support for your early product and next meaningful milestone.

How selection works

Three rounds, each one decided before the next opens. You can follow every step in your application tracker.

1. Round 1

   Application & screening

   Fill in one application form — company, founders, product, business and funding — and upload your documents together. Our team screens every application.

   • Application fee ₹99
   • Documents in one step
2. Round 2

   Video pitch & documents

   If you're shortlisted, record two short selfie videos: a 1-minute introduction about you, and a 2-minute pitch of your business, and share your 3-year revenue projection, valuation report and fund utilisation plan.

   • Upload up to 20 MB, or share a link
3. Round 3

   Live pitch with the jury

   A 15-minute session with a jury of at least 2 members: present your pitch deck and answer their questions.

   • Online or in person
   • Date and joining details by email
4. Result

   Selection & funding

   Selected startups complete offline documentation within 7–15 days. Funding — equity or grant — is then usually released within the next 30 days by our investor and partner network.

   • Subject to partner due diligence

Who can apply

• Startups at the pre-revenue stage, applying through a founder account on Idea to Start.
• Registered businesses only — a company, LLP, partnership firm or proprietorship.
• Asking for funding of ₹2 L – ₹10 L (equity or grant).

Support for your early product and next meaningful milestone. Support for your early product and next meaningful milestone.

Documents you'll need

Keep these ready as PDF, JPG or PNG files, up to 2 MB each (the pitch deck: a PDF up to 15 MB, or a link). You add them together in one step of the form.

• Company PAN cardPAN issued in the company's / firm's name.Required
• Certificate of incorporation / registrationCOI from the MCA, LLP certificate, partnership deed or shop registration.Required
• Pitch deck10–15 slides. Upload the PDF, or share a link to it.Required
• Founder / director PAN cardOf the founder applying.Required
• Founder / director Aadhaar (masked)Download the masked Aadhaar from the UIDAI website — only the last 4 digits visible.Required
• GST registration certificateIf registered for GST.Optional
• DPIIT recognition certificateStartup India recognition, if you have it.Optional
• Udyam (MSME) certificateIf registered.Optional
• Board resolution / authorisation letterAuthorising the applicant to apply on the company's behalf.Optional
• Any other supporting documentAwards, patents, letters of intent, customer contracts.Optional

For Aadhaar, upload only the masked copy from the UIDAI website. We never ask for your Aadhaar number.

Important dates

1. 26 Oct 2026Applications openThe application form opens on Idea to Start.
2. 31 Oct 2026Applications closeSubmit your application — and pay the fee, if any — before this date.
3. After screeningRounds 2 and 3Shortlisted startups are emailed with their round 2 due date and, later, their jury pitch slot.
4. 23 Dec 2026Final resultsFinal selection is announced. Round 1 refunds are processed after this date.