Deadline: 04-Mar-2026
The Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) has invited applications from eligible non-profit organizations across Karnataka to implement the WEscalate initiative for FY 2026–27.
The program supports women-led startups through structured Incubation and Acceleration Programs, along with networking and capacity development components. Selected implementing partners can receive up to INR 20 lakh per incubation cohort and up to INR 30 lakh per acceleration cohort, including deployment grants for top-performing startups.
Program Overview
Program Name: WEscalate Initiative
Implementing Authority: Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS)
Financial Year: FY 2026–27
Geographic Scope: Karnataka, India
Target Beneficiaries: Women-led startups
Applicant Type: Eligible non-profit organizations in Karnataka (as implementing partners)
Purpose of the WEscalate Initiative
The WEscalate initiative aims to strengthen the women entrepreneurship ecosystem in Karnataka by:
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Supporting early-stage women entrepreneurs
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Accelerating growth-stage women-led ventures
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Increasing inclusivity in the startup ecosystem
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Enabling market access, funding readiness, and business scalability
The program addresses structural barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, including limited access to capital, undervaluation of contributions, and ecosystem biases.
Background and Ecosystem Context
Women-owned businesses remain underrepresented in India’s startup ecosystem. Surveys show that many women in technology and entrepreneurship report undervaluation of their contributions. Global entrepreneurship rankings also highlight the need for stronger enabling environments for women founders.
Karnataka is positioned as one of India’s leading startup ecosystems:
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Home to over 7,000 startups
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Recognized as a “Top Performer” in State Startup Rankings (DPIIT) in 2019 and 2020
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Supported by initiatives such as:
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New Age Innovation Network (NAIN) – Incubation centers in engineering colleges beyond Bengaluru
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Elevate – Grant-in-aid funding program for early-stage startups with strong participation from women founders
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WEscalate builds on this ecosystem by exclusively focusing on women-led startups.
Core Components of WEscalate
The initiative includes four major pillars:
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Incubation Program
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Acceleration Program
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Networking Platform
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Capacity Development Program
Each component is designed to address different stages of startup growth.
Incubation Program (Early-Stage Women-Led Startups)
Duration: 6 months
Format: Hybrid model (combination of physical and virtual engagement)
Cohort Size: 15 startups per cohort
Department Contribution: Up to INR 20 lakh per cohort (grant-in-aid)
Key Support Areas
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Business skills training
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Structured mentoring
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Peer learning sessions
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Market and customer analysis
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Business plan development
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Pitch preparation
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Investor introductions and connections
Startups demonstrating strong performance may advance to the Acceleration Program.
Acceleration Program (Growth-Stage Women-Led Startups)
Duration: 6 months
Cohort Size: 15 selected startups
Department Contribution: Up to INR 30 lakh per cohort
This amount includes a Deployment Grant component.
Focus Areas
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Market validation
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Funding enablement
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Market access facilitation
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Scaling strategies
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Corporate and investor connections
Deployment Grant Details
Total Deployment Grant: INR 8.7 lakh per cohort
Distribution: Equally divided among the top 3 performing startups
Purpose:
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On-ground deployment of products or services
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Generation of measurable impact
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Real-world validation of business models
Implementing incubators and accelerators are encouraged to:
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Leverage corporate networks
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Secure matching grants
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Prioritize socially impactful deployment projects
Who Can Apply?
Eligible Applicants:
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Non-profit organizations based in Karnataka
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Organizations with experience in startup incubation or acceleration
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Entities capable of implementing structured startup support programs
Applicants must demonstrate:
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Institutional capacity
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Access to mentor and investor networks
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Experience in ecosystem development
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Ability to manage grant-in-aid funding
Note: The call is for implementing organizations, not individual startups.
Who Benefits from the Program?
Primary Beneficiaries:
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Early-stage women-led startups
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Growth-stage women-led ventures
The program exclusively supports startups led by women founders.
Why This Initiative Matters
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Reduces Gender Gaps in Entrepreneurship
Encourages women’s participation in high-growth sectors. -
Improves Access to Capital
Structured investor connect and deployment grants improve funding readiness. -
Strengthens Ecosystem Inclusivity
Builds a more balanced and representative startup ecosystem in Karnataka. -
Encourages Scalable Innovation
Supports startups beyond ideation toward real market validation. -
Promotes Social and Economic Impact
Deployment grants support real-world implementation and measurable results.
How the Program Works
Step 1: Selection of Implementing Non-Profit Organizations
KITS selects eligible non-profits to run WEscalate programs.
Step 2: Startup Cohort Selection
Implementing partners identify and onboard 15 women-led startups per cohort.
Step 3: Six-Month Structured Program
Startups receive mentoring, training, market analysis support, and investor exposure.
Step 4: Performance Evaluation
Top-performing startups may:
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Progress from Incubation to Acceleration
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Receive deployment grants in the Acceleration phase
Step 5: Market Deployment and Scaling
Selected startups deploy solutions, validate impact, and scale operations.
How to Apply (For Non-Profit Organizations)
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Ensure your organization is a registered non-profit operating in Karnataka with startup ecosystem experience.
Step 2: Prepare a Program Implementation Proposal
Include:
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Institutional profile
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Experience in incubation/acceleration
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Mentor and investor network details
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Proposed selection process for startups
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Monitoring and evaluation framework
Step 3: Budget Planning
Ensure budget requests align with:
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INR 20 lakh limit for Incubation cohorts
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INR 30 lakh limit for Acceleration cohorts
Step 4: Demonstrate Ecosystem Leverage
Highlight corporate partnerships, potential matching grants, and social deployment capabilities.
Step 5: Submit Application to KITS
Follow official submission guidelines and timelines for FY 2026–27.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applying without clear experience in startup incubation
Failing to define measurable outcomes
Ignoring deployment impact strategy
Not demonstrating access to mentors and investors
Submitting vague budget breakdowns
Overlooking gender-focused ecosystem strategies
Strong proposals clearly outline structure, measurable impact, and ecosystem partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Who can apply for WEscalate implementation?
Eligible non-profit organizations based in Karnataka. -
Is the program open to individual startups directly?
No. The call is for implementing partners who will run programs for women-led startups. -
How many startups are supported per cohort?
15 startups in the Incubation Program and 15 in the Acceleration Program. -
What is the maximum government contribution for incubation?
Up to INR 20 lakh per cohort. -
What is the maximum government contribution for acceleration?
Up to INR 30 lakh per cohort, including INR 8.7 lakh for deployment grants. -
How are deployment grants distributed?
The INR 8.7 lakh deployment grant is equally divided among the top three performing startups. -
What is the duration of each program?
Both Incubation and Acceleration Programs run for six months.
Key Definitions
KITS: Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society
Grant-in-aid: Government funding provided to implementing organizations to run structured programs
Incubation Program: Structured support for early-stage startups
Acceleration Program: Growth-focused support for scaling startups
Deployment Grant: Financial support for real-world implementation of products or services
Conclusion
The WEscalate Initiative FY 2026–27 is a targeted effort by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society to strengthen women-led startups across the state.
By combining incubation, acceleration, deployment grants, and ecosystem partnerships, the program addresses structural barriers faced by women entrepreneurs while reinforcing Karnataka’s position as a leading innovation hub in India.
Eligible non-profit organizations have a strategic opportunity to implement high-impact programs that foster inclusive growth, market validation, and scalable women-led innovation.
For more information, visit Government of Karnataka.
