Most equity schemes do not invest directly — they anchor capital in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which then invest in eligible startups. The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and the Fund of Funds for Startups (FoF 2.0, another ₹10,000 crore) work this way: you approach the supported AIFs, not the government agency directly, and the AIF does the due diligence.

The National Credit Guarantee Trust Company guarantees loans of up to ₹20 crore extended by scheduled banks, RBI-registered NBFCs, or SEBI-registered AIFs to DPIIT-recognised startups — with no collateral required from the startup. Applications go through the Jan Samarth portal or directly through your bank, under the CGTMSE framework.

For most central schemes, yes — DPIIT recognition under Notification G.S.R. 127(E) dated 19 February 2019 is the common eligibility gate (plus the startup definition: age, turnover, innovation). Sectoral schemes like BIRAC (biotech) and IN-SPACe (space) add their own technical-stage requirements, like TRL levels and the fund's investment focus.

Mostly equity or debt, not grants. The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme provides seed funding up to prescribed amounts through incubators; the Fund of Funds invests in AIFs; BIRAC's Social Innovation and other programmes blend grants and equity. The finder labels each scheme's funding type so you don't pitch a grant application to an equity programme.

It asks about your sector, stage, and DPIIT status, then matches against scheme eligibility — funding type, target stage, sector focus, and how to apply (direct vs via AIF or incubator). Scheme parameters change with each budget; the tool notes that eligibility should be re-verified against the current scheme guidelines before applying.