Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program (RGEP) is an early-stage funding programme introduced to nurture innovative ideas and encourage entrepreneurship among young and talented graduates. The programme aims to provide an alternative to traditional job seeking by helping eligible innovators pursue their own business ideas, create employment opportunities, and contribute to technology-driven economic growth in Karnataka.

Under the programme, selected innovators receive a monthly stipend or subsistence grant of ₹25,000 for 12 months, providing total financial assistance of ₹3 lakh. The support is intended to help innovators manage the uncertainties of the ideation stage while they work on developing their business ideas. By the end of the programme, the innovator is expected to work towards a Prototype, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), or Proof of Concept (PoC) that has potential for commercial development.

RGEP supports 30 innovators per year through a structured selection process. To qualify, an applicant must be a citizen of India and a domicile of Karnataka, must have completed a 3-year or 4-year degree in Science or Engineering, must be 30 years or younger on the date of application, and must not be employed for remuneration or hold a stake in any other startup. The applicant or their startup must not have received more than ₹5 lakh cumulatively in eligible grants for the proposed idea. The idea must be at the early ideation to early prototype stage, must not generate revenue, and must not have been introduced to the market in any form.

Selected innovators also receive mentorship, guidance, networking, skill-building and other entrepreneurial support through designated Program Monitoring Partners. They are attached to designated Program Monitoring Partners (PMPs), such as K-Tech partners, who provide mentorship, guidance, networking opportunities, workshops, and access to relevant industry and technology resources. Innovators follow a milestone-based plan covering idea clarification, concept development and testing, validation, and finalization, while PMPs conduct regular progress reviews to monitor their development. RGEP complements Karnataka's broader efforts to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment, including the Karnataka Self Employment Scheme and Direct Loan for Business Enterprises Scheme.

The programme uses a competitive selection process involving initial screening, jury evaluation, shortlisting, and final approval by the Steering Committee. The jury evaluates innovations based on novelty, socio-economic impact, clarity of the problem statement, feasibility and implementation, and commercial potential. Applications are invited online through the official Startup Karnataka portal, where candidates submit their personal, educational, and business-idea details along with a pitch deck. For the current RGEP 2026–27 application cycle, eligible innovators can submit their applications until 31 August 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Scheme Benefits

The Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program offers young innovators in Karnataka much more than financial support. The key benefits of the scheme are listed below.

• Monthly subsistence stipend of ₹25,000 for each selected innovator.
• Support continues for 12 months, totalling up to ₹3,00,000 per innovator.
• Early-stage funding to help innovators develop their ideas towards a Prototype, MVP, or Proof of Concept with business potential
• Guidance and mentorship from a designated Program Monitoring Partner (PMP), such as a K-Tech partner.
• At least one one-on-one mentorship session every month and a monthly progress connect with the K-Tech partner.
• At least one skill-building workshop every quarter, along with access to learning platforms, pitch-deck coaching, market research and validation tools, and market access support.
• Opportunities to join mentorship sessions, workshops, networking events, and pitch sessions with industry professionals and investors.
• A structured 12-month milestone plan that guides the idea from clarification and concept testing to validation and finalization.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying for the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program, candidates must meet a set of mandatory eligibility conditions set by the Karnataka Startup Cell. Check the complete eligibility criteria below to confirm whether you can apply.

• The applicant must be a citizen of India and a domicile of Karnataka.
• The applicant must have completed a 3-year or 4-year degree in Science or Engineering.
  • Preference will be given to applicants with 2 years of full-time work experience after completing their degree.
• The applicant must be 30 years or younger on the date of application.
• The applicant must not be working as an employee with any company for remuneration, including contract, outsourced, or permanent employment.
• The applicant must not have invested in or hold any stake in another startup.
• The applicant must be willing to remain solely dedicated to the proposed business idea for 12 months after selection.
• The proposed idea must be at the early ideation to early prototype development stage.
• Ideas with finalized prototypes or commercially ready solutions are not eligible.
• The innovator or their startup must not be generating revenue from any product or service, whether related or unrelated to the proposed idea.
• The innovator or startup must not have received more than ₹5 lakh cumulatively in government, private-sector, or academic grants for the proposed idea. This limit includes cash and in-kind support.
• The proposed concept, product, or service must not have been introduced to the market in any form.

Required Documents

Applicants must keep the required documents ready while submitting the application for the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program (RGEP). These documents help verify the applicant's citizenship, Karnataka domicile, educational qualification, startup involvement, and proposed innovation. Applicants should also prepare the required pitch deck as part of the application.

• Proof of Indian Citizenship
  • Aadhaar Card
  • Passport
  • Voter ID
• Proof of Karnataka Domicile
  • Domicile Certificate
  • Ration Card
  • Voter ID
• Educational Qualification
  • Degree certificate showing completion of a 3-year or 4-year Science/Engineering degree
• Startup Involvement Declaration
  • Self-declaration affidavit confirming that the applicant has not invested in or holds any stake in another startup
• Pitch Deck
  • Applicants must prepare and submit the prescribed pitch deck

Financial Assistance and Fund Disbursement

RGEP gives each selected innovator a steady monthly stipend, linked to their progress. Here is how the funding works.

• Each innovator gets ₹25,000 every month for 12 months. The total support is ₹3,00,000 per innovator.
• The funds are routed through the Program Monitoring Partner (PMP). The PMP then pays the monthly stipend to the innovator.
• The stipend is linked to performance. The innovator must meet the agreed milestones in monthly reviews. Poor progress can pause the payment.
• A separate Program Support Fee of ₹32,500 per innovator is paid to the PMP. It covers mentorship, monitoring, and support activities.

Selection Process

• Initial Screening and Pre-Evaluation KITS checks the application for eligibility, completeness, required documents, age, educational qualification, and other prescribed conditions.
• Jury Evaluation Shortlisted applicants are invited to present their innovation before the jury, with 20 minutes allotted for the assessment/presentation.
  • Novelty/Innovation 30 marks
  • Socio-economic Impact 30 marks
  • Problem Statement 20 marks
  • Feasibility and Implementation 10 marks
  • Commercial Potential 10 marks
• Shortlisting The jury shortlists the most promising innovators based on the evaluation.
• Final Selection The shortlisted innovators are recommended to the Steering Committee, which reviews and approves the final selection.
• Selection Notification Selected innovators are informed and required to sign an agreement confirming their participation and commitment to the 12-month program.
• Onboarding Selected innovators are mapped to suitable Program Monitoring Partners based on their sector and expertise, followed by signing of a tripartite agreement between KITS, the innovator, and the Program Monitoring Partner.
• Milestone Setting Each selected innovator works with the assigned Program Monitoring Partner to establish a milestone plan for the 12-month program.

Steps to Apply

Eligible candidates can apply for the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program online through the official Startup Karnataka portal. The RGEP application process is simple and requires a completed application form along with a well-prepared pitch deck. Follow the steps below to apply for the scheme.

• Visit the official Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program page on the Startup Karnataka portal of the Department of Electronics, IT & BT.
• Read the RGEP Operational Guidelines and confirm that you meet all the mandatory eligibility conditions.
• Download the official RGEP 2026–27 pitch deck template and prepare your presentation.
• The pitch deck should cover the problem statement, proposed solution, 12-month implementation plan, customer and market analysis, market size, competitive differentiation, and team and advisors.
• Click on the "Apply Now" link to open the online application form.
• Fill in your personal details, educational background, and business idea details in the application form.
• Upload the required documents and completed pitch deck along with the application.
• Review the information and submit the application before 31 August 2026, 5:00 PM.
• KITS conducts an initial data-sufficiency screening and pre-evaluation to verify eligibility and completeness of the application.
• If shortlisted after the screening, attend the in-person jury evaluation when invited and present your innovation before the jury.

Relevant Links

• Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program Application Form.
• Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program Guidelines.
• RGEP 2026 Pitch Deck
• Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology Portal

Contact Information

• Karnataka Startup Cell Phone Number: 080-22231007
• Karnataka Startup Cell Email Helpdesk:
  • [email protected]
  • [email protected]