NIDHI-EIR (Entrepreneur-In-Residence)

The NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) programme provides a monthly fellowship to support aspiring entrepreneurs while they validate and develop their technology-based business ideas. It is a risk-reduction mechanism that enables innovators to pursue entrepreneurship full-time without the immediate pressure of generating income.

The scheme is funded by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and implemented through VentureStudio.

Citizenship and Education

• Must be an Indian citizen with government-approved proof of nationality (valid passport, voter's ID, etc.)
• Must have completed either:
• Minimum 4 years of formal full-time undergraduate/postgraduate education towards one or more degree programs (basic degree/diploma in science or engineering)
• OR 3 years degree/diploma program with 2 years full-time work experience post-degree/diploma (basic degree/diploma in science or engineering)

Commitment and Status

• Must be committed to exploring a business idea full-time
• Cannot treat this support as a stop-gap arrangement for academic pursuits or job transitions
• Cannot receive any other concurrent remuneration or fellowship
• Cannot be the promoter or significant (>10%) shareholder/beneficiary of another company at the time of applying and receiving the grant

Business Proposal

• Must demonstrate ability to build a scalable technology business startup
• Must propose one technology business idea in the prescribed format
• Must have a formal business plan and business presentation including investment proposal
• Must register for incubation program at the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) for the entire duration of support

You are not eligible if:

• Receiving financial support from any other government scheme for the same idea.
• A promoter of an existing, funded startup.
• A student currently enrolled in full-time academic programmes.
• A former NIDHI-EIR recipient.

• Monthly Fellowship: Up to ₹30,000 per month for a maximum of 12–18 months.
• Entrepreneurial Mentorship: Structured mentoring by domain and business experts.
• Facility Access: Use of coworking space and relevant labs at VentureStudio.
• Preparation for Funding: Guidance on moving toward grants or seed investment.

• First-time entrepreneurs with deep-tech or hardware-based solutions.
• Ideas aligned with national missions (e.g. Digital India, Make in India).
• Solutions in health, agriculture, environment, manufacturing, and social impact sectors.

The EIR fellowship is intended as a personal sustenance grant to:

• Support basic living expenses while building your startup idea.
• Dedicate time and energy to prototype development, customer discovery, and early traction.

Funds cannot be used for:

• Business expenses (e.g. equipment, marketing, travel).
• Hiring team members or contractors.
• Product development or lab purchases.
• Reimbursement of past expenses.

• Support period is typically 12 months, extendable up to 18 months in deserving cases
• Must be registered for pre-incubation or incubation at a TBI throughout the support period
• Cannot avail funding support from both NIDHI-PRAYAS and NIDHI-EIR simultaneously
• Cannot be a recipient of NIDHI-EIR more than once
• Regular monitoring and review of progress by the TBI
• Grant may be terminated for non-performing EIRs before completion of 12 months

At VentureStudio, NIDHI-EIR is designed to help you convert your idea into a viable startup:

• Application & Selection: Online application followed by a jury interaction.
• Fellowship Agreement: Selected entrepreneurs sign a formal agreement.
• Milestone Planning: We co-create goals for your EIR journey.
• Fellowship Release: Monthly payments are linked to progress reports.
• Ongoing Mentorship: You’ll work with experienced founders and industry mentors.
• Graduation & Next Steps: EIRs are encouraged to apply for grants like PRAYAS SSP once ready.

VentureStudio is no longer accepting applications for this scheme. Please check back for an update.