Scheme Overview & Objective
India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed a surge of youthful innovators, yet many lack the capital to turn ideas into market-ready products. The WTFund Young Founder Grant bridges this gap by offering a non-dilutive grant of up to ₹20 Lakh along with mentorship and ecosystem support. Launched by Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, the programme’s core objective is to empower founders aged 25 years or younger to validate, build, and scale early-stage ventures without surrendering equity.
Eligibility Criteria & Scope
Only a narrow set of founders qualify for this grant. The eligibility rules are strictly defined by the scheme and cannot be altered.
- Age: Founder must be 25 years or younger at the time of cohort application.
- Nationality: Must be an Indian founder building a startup in India.
- Stage: Open to startups at Idea, Prototype, MVP, or Early-Traction / Pre-Institutional Funding stages.
- Sector: Sector-agnostic – both tech and non-tech businesses (AI, FinTech, HealthTech, CleanTech, Robotics, SaaS, D2C, DeepTech, etc.) are welcome.
- Founder Profile: First-time entrepreneurs, student founders, or early-stage innovators with demonstrable execution capability.
- Fit: Must show a clear problem-solution fit, scalability potential, and strong commitment to the venture.
Key Financial & Growth Benefits
Beyond the cash infusion, the grant delivers a suite of value-added benefits designed to accelerate growth.
- Up to ₹20 Lakh in pure grant capital – no repayment, no interest.
- 0% equity dilution – founders retain full ownership.
- Operator-led mentorship from seasoned founders, investors, and industry veterans.
- Ecosystem exposure to angel networks and institutional VCs for future fundraising.
- Go-to-market & talent support including customer acquisition strategies and hiring pipelines.
- Subsidized resources such as legal counsel, cloud credits, and financial setup assistance.
Application Procedure & Documents
The application is a two-step process: an online submission followed by a pitch review. All required artifacts are listed below; missing any item may lead to disqualification.
- Create an account on the official WTFund portal and complete your personal profile.
- Submit a detailed pitch deck highlighting the problem, solution, market size, and traction.
- Provide proof of age (Aadhaar, Passport, or PAN card) confirming you are 25 or under.
- Upload product demo links, code repositories (if applicable), or prototype walkthroughs.
- Include financial projections and intended utilization of the grant amount.
Important Deadlines & Next Steps
Applications are reviewed on a rolling cohort basis. Founders should ensure all documentation is accurate before hitting submit. If shortlisted, you will be invited for a virtual or in-person evaluation round with the investment panel.