GENESIS Pilot Funding

To pilot your market-ready innovation with leading corporates, PSUs, and enterprises

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Last Day to Apply: November 10, 2025

About the Program

The Pilot Component under the MeitY GENESIS initiative empowers startups, especially those from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, to validate and demonstrate their market-ready innovations through real-world pilot projects with corporates, PSUs, and large enterprises. By facilitating structured pilot engagements, the program helps startups gain credibility, revenue traction, and market validation, while encouraging corporates and PSUs to explore and adopt emerging technologies. It further strengthens industry-startup collaboration in areas such as ICT, AI, electronic manufacturing, and deeptech products. 

Through this initiative, the Pilot Program advances GENESIS’s vision of driving digitization, inclusivity, job creation, and economic growth. As a Program Partner, AIC ISB offers startups tailored mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to resources, bridging the critical gap between a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and commercialization.

Pilot Funding: Up to INR 40 lakhs*

*To enable startups, from Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities, to validate and demonstrate their market-ready solutions through pilot projects with corporates, PSUs, and large enterprises.

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Focus Areas

Electronic Design and Manufacturing (EDM)

Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technology and Deeptech products driving digital transformation

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Must be DPIIT-recognized and registered as a Private Limited or LLP entity
  2. Must have a working prototype or MVP ready for pilot implementation
  3. Must possess a viable business plan and have a full-time founder/co-founder
  4. Must have a Pilot work order/ Purchase order from eligible corporate/PSU/unicorn
  5. Must not be a beneficiary of TIDE 2.0 (Scale-up) or SAMRIDH programs.

Program Offerings

Pilot Funding Support

Access funding of up to ₹40 lakhs to execute pilot projects with corporates, PSUs, or large enterprises, helping validate your innovation in real-world conditions.

Strategic Mentorship & Guidance

Receive one-on-one mentorship from ISB’s network of successful entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts to refine your business model, go-to-market strategy, and pilot execution plan.

Capacity Building & Founder Development

Participate in targeted capacity-building sessions designed to strengthen your leadership, operations, and market-readiness, addressing the unique challenges faced by startups from emerging regions.

Corporate & Investor Connections

Gain facilitated access to corporates, PSUs, investors, and ecosystem enablers, creating opportunities for partnerships, procurement, and long-term commercial engagements.

Infrastructure & Technical Support

Leverage prototyping labs, co-working spaces, and expert sessions to enhance your product’s design, usability, and market readiness.

1:1 Need Assessment

Undergo a personalized one-on-one Need Assessment with AIC ISB’s program team & external Subject Matter Experts to identify growth gaps, refine pilot objectives, and co-create a 6 - 12 month strategic roadmap for sustainable scale-up.

Contact Us

[email protected] / [email protected]

FAQs

The Purchase Order (PO) or Work Order (WO) must be issued by a credible organization that meets MeitY’s eligibility criteria. The issuer should be one of the following:

  • Government of India Ministries, Departments, Organizations, or Autonomous Bodies
  • State Government Departments, Organizations, or Undertakings
  • Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
  • Fortune 500 Companies
  • Recognized Unicorn Startups

Additionally, the organization must have a minimum turnover of ₹75 crore in the last audited financial year and be in operation for at least 5 years.

Funding is typically disbursed in milestone-based tranches or one/two installments, depending on the project scope and approval by the Expert Committee. The disbursement is facilitated through the Enabling Partner (here AIC ISB) after the signing of a tripartite agreement between the startup, AIC, and corporate.

Call for Application – Oct 10 – Nov 10, 2025

Screening & Evaluation – Nov 10 – Nov 17, 2025

Due Diligence & Onboarding – Last week of Nov

Program Enagegment – Dec onwards