Kerala Startup Grants & Funding
Strong tourism-tech and KSUM-led startup ecosystem with Technopark and Infopark.
About Kerala Startup Grants
The Kerala state government supports startups through 7 active funding schemes covering seed grants, incubation support, marketing assistance, and tax benefits. Most schemes are open to startups registered in Kerala that are DPIIT-recognised or eligible for recognition. Below are all currently active programmes.
KSUM Fund of Funds
KSUM invests as a limited partner in SEBI-registered AIFs that back Kerala-based startups; it is aimed at fund managers, not directly at startups.
KSUM Scale-up Seed Fund
Collateral-free soft debt or CCD/CCPS-type support for revenue-stage Kerala product startups to enhance products and expand.
KSUM Scaleup Grant
Grant for growth-stage Kerala startups to scale operations, add capacity and enter bigger markets.
KSUM Seed Fund (soft loan)
Soft loan from Kerala Startup Mission to prototype/MVP-stage product startups, disbursed in two tranches against milestones.
KSUM Women/Transgender Productisation Grant
Productisation grant reserved for women-led and transgender-led startups to build and commercialise a product from a minimum viable prototype.
KSUM Productisation Grant
Grant for Kerala startups that already have a prototype and need to turn it into a market-ready product through engineering, design and testing.
KSUM Idea Grant
Non-dilutive grant from Kerala Startup Mission to help founders validate an idea, build a proof of concept and run initial feasibility work.