The first cohort of ELEVATE NxT, the national grant-in-aid programme for deep tech startups by the Department of Electronics, IT, and Bt in Karnataka, has attracted a significant number of applications from outside Karnataka. Of the 983 applications received, 213 are from outside Karnataka, accounting for nearly 23% of the total.

Out of the total applicants, 661 deep tech startups have been shortlisted. The selected candidates will begin pitching to the jury on May 6, 2026, following which a final cohort will be selected after a three-week pitching process

Casting a wide net

The ₹150 crore Elevate Nxt was announced in January 2026 to back deep tech startups. Launched under the Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP), the programme invited applications from startups that work in advanced technology sectors such as AI/ML, IoT, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, spacetech, aerospace and defence, nanotechnology, agritech, robotics, and so on.  

While ELEVATE looks at startups from Karnataka, ELEVATE NxT is open to deep-tech startups across the country. 

“We have opened up ELEVATE NxT specifically nationally with the idea that anything deep tech should find its place in Bengaluru,” said sources in the Department. 

Deep tech decade

IT-Bt minister Priyank Kharge, during Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, had announced an investment pool of ₹600 crore to power the State to enter the ‘Deep Tech Decade’ and drive various initiatives aimed towards it. 

“Building on 22 successful ELEVATE rounds over the last nine years and aligned with our Department’s Deeptech Decade Programme focusing on frontier technologies, for the first time we have opened up ELEVATE NEXT to startups across the country, with enhanced grant-in-aid support of up to ₹1 crore,” Mr. Kharge wrote on his X handle. he further highlighted how the State has moved early on frontier technologies, backing it with policy and programmes that bring capital and opportunity at scale.

No cap set

The selected startups will be eligible for up to ₹1 crore in grant-in-aid support. According to department sources, no cap has been fixed for the final cohort size which would depend on the quality of the startups.  

“The evaluation has been very strict, and it has been done with the help of industry partners. It will be pure play deep tech and anybody who is not will be redirected to the next cohort of the ELEVATE programme,” Department sources said.  

ELEVATE, a Government of Karnataka initiative to support and fund innovative startups in Karnataka, has so far held 22 cohorts.