Goa strengthens startup ecosystem with seed capital scheme for homegrown innovators

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) in Goa recently held its 10^th Expert Committee Meeting for the state’s Seed Fund Grant Scheme, convening officials and industry specialists to review a fresh batch of applications from early-stage startups seeking support under the Goa Startup Policy.

In a session that highlighted the state’s growing entrepreneurial landscape, the committee examined proposals from a broad sweep of innovation-driven sectors. Submissions arrived from firms working in information technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, health-tech, edtech, agritech, clean energy, and fisheries, along with sports innovation, waste management, personal finance, media solutions, and aerospace and defence.

The assessment marks the latest effort by the state government to channel public funding towards young ventures with the potential to scale, diversify Goa’s economy and position the coastal state as a hub for emerging technologies.

PRACTICAL INNOVATION

During the session, the committee carried out a rigorous and structured evaluation, engaging founders on innovation potential, technical feasibility, scalability and prototype readiness. A number of founders presented solutions built and tested in Goa, demonstrating the increasing confidence of entrepreneurs choosing the state as their base of operations.

Many proposals addressed real, ground-level challenges from digital accessibility and food logistics to clean energy, fisheries management, healthcare and smart construction, highlighting the evolving depth and relevance of Goa’s innovation pipeline.

WHAT THE SCHEME IS ALL ABOUT

The Startup Seed Capital Scheme, a key component of the Goa Startup Policy, provides one-time funding support of up to Rs 10 lakh to startups that have developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The scheme enables early-stage ventures to grow and further develop their products or services, supporting a strong foundation of homegrown innovation.

As more founders build and validate products from Goa, the state continues to strengthen its startup ecosystem through funding support and initiatives that encourage early-stage entrepreneurship.