DST NIDHI Seed Support Program

Provides seed support up to ₹100 lakh to startups, routed through listed incubators / Technology Business Incubators (TBIs). The exact instrument can vary and is determined at the incubator level. NIDHI-SSP disburses seed support through a national network of DST-recognized incubators and TBIs rather than a central call, with the instrument used — loan, equity or an equity-linked instrument — decided at the incubator level, and debt-based support carrying a notably low 2-3% interest rate. Because each host incubator runs its own periodic call for proposals, prospective applicants generally need an existing relationship with (or acceptance into) one of the listed incubators before a formal SSP application can be considered.