Women/Transgender Productization Grant

About this grant

The Women/Transgender Productization Grant, offered by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), is specifically designed to empower women and transgender-led startups. KSUM, a pioneering government agency, plays a vital role in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem within Kerala, offering various support mechanisms, including incubation, mentorship, and financial grants, to nurture innovative ventures. This grant provides crucial financial assistance to help these ventures transition their Minimum Viable Prototype (MVP) into a fully market-ready product. It serves as an additional support mechanism, supplementing the standard Productization Grant, and is structured to meet specific government norms regarding founder shareholding. Eligible startups can receive financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakhs. This funding is disbursed in milestone-based tranches, adhering to KSUM's guidelines, which ensures that funds are released based on demonstrated progress towards predefined product development milestones. This phased approach encourages accountability and effective utilization of funds, directly linking disbursement to tangible achievements. The funding is intended to cover expenses directly related to product development, validation, and achieving early market readiness. However, certain expenses are explicitly excluded to ensure focused utilization: these include founder salaries, the purchase of fixed assets like land, buildings, or high-end equipment exceeding ₹2 lakhs, rent, and major infrastructure setup. This targeted approach ensures the grant focuses purely on essential, product-centric development activities.

Eligibility requirements

All of the following criteria must be met:

• To be eligible for this grant, a startup must be actively engaged in the Product Development stage, moving beyond an MVP towards a market-ready product. A foundational requirement is that women or transgender founder(s) must collectively hold a minimum of 51% shareholding in the startup, ensuring direct leadership from the target beneficiaries. Applicants must possess a valid KSUM Unique ID, confirming their registration and recognition within the Kerala Startup Mission ecosystem. The startup must be formally incorporated as a Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd), a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), or a One Person Company (OPC) and maintain an active status with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Startups that have previously secured a KSUM Scale-up Grant are not eligible, allowing for a broader distribution of support across different startup growth phases. Finally, the founder responsible for pitching to the Expert Committee must be a woman or transgender individual, capable of effectively presenting the product's key features, market potential, and strategic vision.

What the funding covers

• Grant amount: ₹500,000
• The Women/Transgender Productization Grant, offered by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), is specifically designed to empower women and transgender-led startups
• KSUM, a pioneering government agency, plays a vital role in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem within Kerala, offering various support mechanisms, including incubation, mentorship, and financial grants, to nurture innovative ventures
• This grant provides crucial financial assistance to help these ventures transition their Minimum Viable Prototype (MVP) into a fully market-ready product

How to apply

1. 1The application process involves submitting detailed proposals through the official KSUM website during designated calls for applications. Following submission, KSUM officials conduct an initial screening to assess eligibility and program alignment, after which shortlisted startups receive email notifications. These shortlisted startups are then invited to pitch their product and a comprehensive fund utilisation plan to an Expert Committee. The evaluation criteria for the pitch encompass the team's strength, product innovation, market strategy, financial projections, and the viability of the proposed grant plan. Upon the Expert Committee's recommendation, the KSUM CEO or Chairman provides final approval. Selected startups then proceed with document submission and the formal execution of a grant agreement. Grant funds are subsequently disbursed in milestone-based tranches, contingent upon demonstrated progress and achievement of predefined product development objectives, ensuring accountability and efficient resource allocation.

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