Stories
Karnataka Launches 'Government First' Initiative to Boost Startup Innovation and Public Services
N
News18•30-09-2026, 19:15
Karnataka Launches 'Government First' Initiative to Boost Startup Innovation and Public Services
- •The Karnataka government has rolled out the 'Government First' initiative, enabling startups to develop and test solutions for government departments.
- •Part of the 'Elevate' programme under the Startup Policy 2025-30, the initiative aims to support up to 100 startups over three years with a total cost of Rs 25 crore.
- •The program facilitates early market access for startups, allowing them to test solutions in real-world government settings and potentially secure procurement.
- •Startups can propose solutions to identified government problems or offer innovative solutions for government needs, with a systematic test-evaluate-procure approach.
- •Eligible startups can receive up to Rs 25 lakh for pilot implementation and evaluation, with 95% of the grant earmarked for startup support.
Key Questions Answered
The 'Government First' initiative aims to provide startups with an opportunity to develop solutions for government departments, test products in real-world settings, and facilitate public procurement of successful solutions to improve service efficiency.
The initiative is supported with a total cost of Rs 25 crore over three years, where eligible startups can receive assistance of up to Rs 25 lakh each for pilot implementation and evaluation.
Startups must be registered in Karnataka, established less than 10 years ago, and have an annual turnover of not more than Rs 200 crore in any financial year to qualify for the program.
