Karnataka Launches Scheme Offering Rs 25 Lakh for Startup Pilots

30 Sept 2026, 10:29 pm · 1d ago · 1 min read · YourStory

The Karnataka government has launched the ‘Government First’ initiative to provide up to Rs 25 lakh in funding per startup to deploy live pilots across state departments. Approved under the ELEVATE programme within the Karnataka Startup Policy 2025–30, the Rs 25 crore scheme will support up to 100 startups over three years. Implemented by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), the initiative aims to make government departments early technology adopters. Selected startups will test, validate, and demonstrate solutions in live public environments through quarterly application cycles evaluating innovation, technical feasibility, and scalability.