Karnataka Women Startup Schemes 2026; Empowering Women Founders: Karnataka Government Offers Up To ₹50 Lakhs Free Grants & Hefty Loan Subsidies For Women-Led Startups!
Karnataka Women Startup Schemes 2026; In a significant push to foster female entrepreneurship and strengthen its position as the startup capital of India, the Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka has rolled out a suite of highly lucrative funding schemes. Aspiring women entrepreneurs looking to build a business or scale a tech venture can now tap into the ELEVATE Shakti 2026 grant drive and the Udyogini Yojana, which provide major financial launchpads.
These initiatives are strategically tailored to break capital barriers for early-stage female innovators across the state.
1. ELEVATE Shakti 2026: Up to ₹50 Lakhs Non-Dilutive Grant! Under the 25th call of Karnataka’s flagship ELEVATE program, a dedicated track called ‘ELEVATE Shakti’ has been activated for women-led startups.
Funding Amount: Selected startups will receive a one-time grant-in-aid of up to ₹50 Lakhs to build prototypes, scale innovations, and commercialize products.
Eligibility: Women co-founders must collectively hold at least a 51% equity stake in the venture, and the entity must be incorporated and operating within Karnataka. The funding is 100% non-dilutive, meaning the government takes zero equity in return.
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2. Udyogini Scheme: Up to ₹3 Lakhs Loan with 50% Subsidy! Aimed at grassroots empowerment, the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) provides credit assistance for micro-enterprises like retail, catering, and textiles for women aged 18 to 55.
Financial Breakdown: Loans up to ₹3 Lakhs are disbursed via commercial banks. SC/ST women are eligible for a massive 50% subsidy (up to ₹1.5 Lakhs) with a 0% or highly concessional interest rate framework. General category women receive up to a 30% subsidy.
How to Apply: Interested applicants can register online through the official Startup Karnataka portal for ELEVATE Shakti, or via the Seva Sindhu platform and digital kiosks for the Udyogini scheme.