ELEVATE 2026

ELEVATE is Karnataka’s flagship grant-in-aid program for startups. The Karnataka Startup Policy page references ELEVATE 2026 grant-in-aid support up to ₹50 lakh. For 2026, Karnataka opened all four ELEVATE tracks simultaneously for the first time: the General track open to any Karnataka-registered startup, ELEVATE Aspire for startups based outside Bengaluru Urban under the state's Local Economy Acceleration Program, ELEVATE Unnati reserved for SC/ST-owned startups, and ELEVATE Shakti reserved for women-led startups, each carrying the same up-to-₹50 lakh non-dilutive ceiling. Run by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, the program requires a turnover under ₹200 crore, incorporation within the last 10 years, and a minimum two-person team, with finalists competing in in-person pitch sessions using the same deck submitted at application and needing a minimum score of 60/100 to advance.