Karnataka Grants $4.6M to 146 Startups, 43% Women-Led

Karnataka just proved that backing dreamers with real money changes lives. The state's Information Technology Ministry celebrated 146 startup founders on Saturday, handing them a combined $4.6 million in grants to turn their innovations into thriving businesses.

The ELEVATE 2025 program isn't just writing checks to the usual suspects in Bengaluru. Nearly half of the winning startups are led by women, and 43% come from cities and towns beyond the state capital, spreading entrepreneurial energy across Karnataka.

The numbers tell a story of inclusive growth. Of the 146 winners, 103 received standard ELEVATE grants, 33 got ELEVATE Unnati support, and 10 came through ELEVATE Minorities. Each startup can receive up to $60,000 in one-time funding, plus mentoring and subsidized space at state-backed incubation centers.

This isn't charity. It's strategic investment in product development and market validation, the make-or-break phase where most startups struggle. The program gives founders breathing room to perfect their ideas without immediately chasing profit.

Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology, credited the program's success to mission-mode implementation. That means treating startup support like critical infrastructure, not an optional nice-to-have.

The Ripple Effect spreads far beyond 146 bank accounts. When a woman in a tier-two city sees another woman from her region get funded, she sees herself as a potential founder. When a minority entrepreneur gets serious backing, it challenges who gets to be called an innovator.

Karnataka is building an ecosystem where your zip code and gender don't determine your access to opportunity. The state is betting that great ideas come from everywhere, and the early results prove them right.

These 146 startups will hire teams, solve local problems, and inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs watching from the sidelines.