Karnataka Launches 25th Edition of Elevate, Providing Rs 292 Crore in Support to 1,250 Startups

Karnataka Government Announces 25th Call for ELEVATE Programme, Marking 10 Years of Supporting Startups

The Karnataka government's Department of Electronics, IT and Biotechnology has announced the opening of applications for the 25th call under its flagship grant-in-aid programme ELEVATE, marking a decade of supporting early-stage startups. Launched in 2017, the programme offers a one-time grant of up to Rs 50 lakh to eligible startups to build prototypes, develop proof-of-concept solutions and scale early innovations.

To broaden participation and improve access across sectors and regions, the government has introduced four ELEVATE tracks simultaneously for the first time. These include ELEVATE General, open to startups across domains; ELEVATE Shakti, for ventures with at least 51 percent women ownership; ELEVATE Unnati, focused on SC/ST founders to encourage inclusive entrepreneurship; and ELEVATE Aspire, aimed at startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions outside Bengaluru.

The programme has made significant progress over the past decade, having completed 24 calls and supported more than 1,250 startups, with a total committed grant support of around Rs 292.57 crore. Women-led startups accounted for 330 ventures receiving Rs 77.39 crore, while 464 startups from Beyond Bengaluru regions were supported with Rs 102.89 crore.

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In addition to funding, ELEVATE provides access to mentorship, incubation support, networking opportunities and linkages with government-backed Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and Technology Business Incubators (TBIs). The programme is aligned with the Karnataka Startup Policy 2022-27, under which startups can also avail reimbursements for patent filing, marketing expenses, GST and quality certification costs.

Minister for Electronics, IT and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge spoke on the occasion, highlighting the importance of ELEVATE in Karnataka's startup ecosystem. "ELEVATE has become a key pillar of Karnataka's startup ecosystem over the last decade. As we celebrate 10 years of ELEVATE, we are proud of the impact it has created-supporting over 1,200 startups and unlocking innovation across Karnataka. This 25th call is particularly significant as we bring together four tracks for the first time, ensuring that opportunity is more inclusive, accessible and statewide."

ELEVATE Programme Statistics

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Eligible startups can submit applications from May 25, 2026, through the official portal.