PITCH 2KONNECT – Prototype-to-Market Grant

PITCH 2KONNECT is a prototype-to-market grant initiative from KonguTBI at Kongu Engineering College in partnership with Karur Vysya Bank through its CSR program. It supports technology and deep-technology startups developing sustainability and climate-action solutions. The program is intended to help selected ventures validate technology, complete product development, undertake pilots, obtain certifications and prepare for manufacturing and commercialization.

• Applicant must be a DPIIT-recognised startup.
• The startup must be no more than five years old from its date of incorporation.
• The startup must be developing a technology or deep-technology solution within an eligible sustainability or climate-action sector.
• The solution must have reached at least TRL 5, MRL 5 and IRL 5.
• Eligible operating stages include prototype or unpaid pilot, pre-revenue or paid pilot, and early-stage revenue.
• Annual revenue must not exceed INR 25 lakh under the published call criteria.
• The startup should demonstrate technical feasibility, commercialization potential and achievable milestones for the proposed grant period.

• Equity-free and non-repayable pre-seed grant up to INR 20 lakh.
• Milestone-based grant disbursement subject to satisfactory progress reviews.
• Approximately 12 months of incubation support at KonguTBI.
• Product-development and technology-validation assistance.
• Pilot deployment and market-validation support.
• Certification and regulatory-compliance guidance.
• Manufacturing-readiness and commercialization support.
• Domain mentoring, technical infrastructure, laboratory access, corporate connections, investor introductions and market access.

• Applications undergo an initial eligibility and document review by KonguTBI.
• Shortlisted startups are assessed for team capability, technology readiness, defensibility, market opportunity, early traction and commercialization strategy.
• Selected applicants may be invited to pitch before the evaluation committee.
• Final grant approval and disbursement are tied to approved budgets, milestones and progress reviews.