State IncentiveWE Hub / Telangana Govt.Official source

WE Hub — Startup India Seed Fund (Women Entrepreneurs)

WE Hub (Women Entrepreneurship Hub), India's first state-led incubator by the Government of Telangana, serves as a gateway incubator for women-led startups to access the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS). This is an incubator-facilitated scheme — not a direct application. Two funding tiers: Grant up to ₹20 lakhs for proof-of-concept validation, prototype development, or product trials; Investment up to ₹50 lakhs (via debt or convertible debentures) for market entry, commercialisation, or scaling. Core eligibility: at least 51% shareholding by a woman founder, DPIIT Startup Recognition (hard prerequisite), and a validated MVP or prototype. Applications are submitted on the SISFS portal (seedfund.startupindia.gov.in) with WE Hub selected as the incubator — you may apply to up to three incubators. WE Hub's Internal Startup Management Committee (ISMC) reviews, shortlists, and invites founders to pitch. Selection takes 6–12 weeks. Funds are disbursed in milestone-linked tranches.

Maximum amount

₹70.0L

Typical payout

₹20.0L

Processing time

4–12 weeks

Application window

Open year-round

Eligibility criteria

Company type: Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company, Proprietorship
Stage: Idea Stage, Pre-Revenue, Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr)
States: Telangana
Sectors: saas, healthtech, edtech, food_processing, retail, fashion, agritech, other

Documents required

DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate

Valid DPIIT recognition certificate for the startup entity.

Tip: Download from DPIIT portal; ensure it is current and not expired.

Certificate of Incorporation or Registration

COI from MCA or equivalent registration document for non-company entities.

Tip: Must match the entity name on all other documents.

PAN Card of the Entity

PAN card issued in the name of the startup entity.

Tip: Entity PAN — not the founder's personal PAN.

Aadhaar Card of Women Founders

Aadhaar of the women founders who hold majority stake.

Tip: All women founders with significant shareholding should provide Aadhaar.

Proof of 51% Women Shareholding

Document evidencing that women hold at least 51% equity in the entity such as shareholding pattern or cap table.

Tip: A CA-certified shareholding statement or MCA-extracted list works well.

Detailed Pitch Deck

Comprehensive pitch deck covering product, market, team, traction, and funding ask.

Tip: Keep to 10-15 slides; WE Hub evaluates innovation and scalability.

Bank Account Details

Cancelled cheque or bank letter confirming the startup account details for fund disbursement.

Tip: Account must be in the entity name, not personal.

GST Registration Certificate

GST registration certificate if the startup is GST-registered; conditional and not required for pre-revenue entities.

Tip: If not yet registered, provide a self-declaration of exemption.

Memorandum and Articles of Association

MoA and AoA for companies; partnership deed for firms; conditional for non-company entities.

Tip: Ensure the object clause reflects current business activities.

Audited Financial Statements

Last available audited balance sheet and P&L; conditional and waived for very early-stage startups.

Tip: If pre-revenue or pre-audit, attach provisional financials prepared by a CA.

Startup Product or Service Demo Video

Short video demonstrating the product or service required by WE Hub for evaluation. No canonical key exists for demo videos.

Tip: Keep under 3 minutes; showcase the core value proposition clearly.

Patent or IP Registration Proof

Certificate of patent or IP registration if applicable; only required if IP is a key differentiator.

Tip: Include application receipt if the patent is pending.

Milestone Roadmap and Fund Utilization Plan

Document outlining planned milestones and how grant funds will be deployed. No canonical key exists for fund utilization plans.

Tip: Be specific with timeline, team, and cost breakdown per milestone to strengthen the application.

How to apply for WE Hub Seed Fund

Obtain DPIIT Startup Recognition before anything else — it is a hard prerequisite for the SISFS portal. Apply at startupindia.gov.in or via the NSWS portal. Recognition is typically granted within 2–7 working days. You cannot proceed without a valid DPIIT certificate.Open portal

Log in to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) portal using your DPIIT-linked Startup India account credentials.Open portal

Search for and select "WE Hub" (Government of Telangana) as your preferred incubator on the seedfund portal. You may apply to up to three incubators — WE Hub should be your primary choice if you are a Telangana-based women-led startup.Open portal

Declare your funding requirement (Grant up to ₹20L for validation/prototype, or Investment up to ₹50L for market entry/scaling), upload all mandatory documents — DPIIT certificate, CoI, entity PAN, founder Aadhaar, shareholding proof, pitch deck, and bank details — and submit.Open portal

WE Hub's Internal Startup Management Committee (ISMC) conducts an internal screening of all submitted applications, evaluating eligibility (51% women ownership, DPIIT recognition, MVP/prototype stage), business feasibility, and social impact potential. Incomplete applications are returned for correction.

Shortlisted founders are invited to pitch their business plan to the ISMC in person or virtually. Prepare to present your team, product/service, market opportunity, traction, and a clear milestone-linked fund utilization plan. The committee may request a product demo video.

WE Hub conducts formal due diligence on shortlisted startups: legal document verification (shareholding pattern, incorporation, DPIIT status), financial checks, and reference calls if applicable. Address any queries promptly. The full selection process typically takes 6–12 weeks from application submission.

Approved funds are disbursed in milestone-linked tranches — not as a lump sum. Each tranche is released after the startup demonstrates completion of the agreed milestone (e.g., prototype built, pilot launched, user target reached). Submit milestone completion evidence on the SISFS portal to trigger each disbursement. Funds are credited to the company's bank account.Open portal

Does your startup qualify for WE Hub Seed Fund?

Answer a few questions about your company and get a personalised eligibility report across all active government schemes — including WE Hub Seed Fund.

Check your eligibility — free

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for WE Hub Seed Fund?

WE Hub Seed Fund is available to Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company, Proprietorship companies at the Idea Stage, Pre-Revenue, Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr) stage, across Telangana.

How much funding does WE Hub Seed Fund provide?

WE Hub Seed Fund provides up to ₹70.0L. Most applicants receive around ₹20.0L.

How long does WE Hub Seed Fund approval take?

The typical processing time from submission to disbursement is 4–12 weeks.

Is WE Hub Seed Fund currently accepting applications?

Yes, WE Hub Seed Fund is currently active and accepting applications. Application window: Open year-round.

Information is based on publicly available scheme guidelines. Always verify with official sources before applying.