• After the receipt of proposals, Programme Executing Partner – TBI will check the eligibility of each applicant.
• Applicants who are eligible will then be scrutinised by the expert committee at each Programme Executing Partner – TBI based on certain qualifying criteria’s to select the final recipients of NIDHI-EIR support.

1. Preference shall be given for

• Technology business ideas with larger technology uncertainties and/ or long gestation periods.
• Technology business ideas leveraging technology or IP from publicly funded research or academic organizations .
• Technology business ideas with considerable potential for social impact.

      2. Entrepreneurs pursuing business ideas with no or marginal technology innovation or those with very short journey (i.e less than 6 months) to commercialization are discouraged to apply.

• Formal business plan for the idea they intend to pursue
• Business presentation including the investment proposal
• Proof of citizenship (Aadhaar)
• Passport size photo
• SC/ST Certificate (if applicable)

NIDHI-EIR support recipient should fulfil all the following requirements

• The EIR applicant should not be a promoter or significant (>10%) share holder / beneficiary of another company at the time of applying for and receiving the grant approval.
• The EIR applicant is expected to pursue the entrepreneurial aspirations full time. NIDHI-EIR cannot be concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship.
• The EIR applicant should be willing to be registered for the pre-incubation or incubation program at the Programme Executing Partner – TBI for the entire duration of NIDHI-EIR support.
• The EIR applicant should be a citizen of India. An Indian citizen is defined as one who is in possession of a government approved proof of nationality such as a valid passport, voter’s id etc.
• The EIR applicant should have completed:
  Minimum 4 years of formal full time undergraduate/postgraduate education towards one or more degree programmes. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
  3 years degree or diploma program and have 2 years full time work experience post degree or diploma. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
• Preference shall be given for a) technology business ideas with larger technology uncertainties and/ or long gestation periods, b) technology business ideas leveraging technology or IP from publicly funded research or academic organizations, c) technology business ideas with considerable potential for social impact.
• Entrepreneurs pursuing business ideas with no or marginal technology innovation or those with a very short journey (i.e less than 6 months) to commercialization are discouraged to apply.

The NIDHI-EIR Program would provide subsistence grant to an aspiring or budding entrepreneur of considerable potential for pursuing a promising technology business idea.

The Programme aims:

• To encourage graduating student to take to entrepreneurship by providing support as a fellowship.
• To provide a prestigious forum for deserving and budding entrepreneurs to pursue their ventures without any additional risks involved in technology based businesses.
• To create, nurture and strengthen a pipeline of entrepreneurs for incubators
• To make pursuing entrepreneurship related to a technology business idea more attractive among options available career options.
• To enable creation of new start-ups by entrepreneurs and significant progress towards raising funding or investment.