Request for Applications: SBIF LEAP Innovators for Bharat (India)

Deadline: 31-Aug-2026

SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat – Overview

SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat is an entrepreneurship and innovation support programme for aspiring founders, innovators, and start-ups in India working in AgriTech, FinTech, and HealthTech. The initiative provides selected participants with incubation, expert mentorship, product development support, and financial assistance of up to ₹8.5 lakh per start-up. The programme is implemented by IIT Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation (IBITF) with support from SBI Foundation to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven solutions in India.

What Is SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat?

SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat is designed to help early-stage innovators and start-ups transform promising ideas into viable products and businesses. The programme combines financial and non-financial support rather than focusing only on grant funding. Selected start-ups can receive assistance with product development, incubation, mentoring, and business growth. The initiative focuses on solutions that address important challenges and opportunities in three technology-driven sectors: - AgriTech - FinTech - HealthTech What Does SBIF LEAP Aim to Achieve? The programme aims to strengthen India’s start-up and innovation ecosystem by helping founders develop practical, scalable, and technology-enabled solutions.

Its key objectives include:

- Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. - Supporting aspiring founders and early-stage start-ups. - Accelerating product development. - Providing access to incubation infrastructure. - Connecting innovators with experienced mentors. - Strengthening technology-based business models. - Supporting solutions in agriculture, financial services, and healthcare. - Helping promising start-ups move from ideas and prototypes toward market-ready solutions. Why SBIF LEAP Matters Early-stage start-ups often face challenges such as limited funding, lack of technical expertise, difficulty developing products, and limited access to experienced mentors. SBIF LEAP addresses these challenges through an integrated support ecosystem. Instead of providing financial assistance alone, the programme combines: - Funding to support product and business development. - Incubation to provide an enabling environment for start-up growth. - Mentorship to help founders make informed technical and business decisions. - Product development assistance to help convert innovative ideas into practical solutions. This combination can help innovators reduce early-stage development barriers and improve their readiness for future growth and investment. Focus Sectors

SBIF LEAP: Innovators for Bharat focuses on three sectors.

AgriTech AgriTech refers to the use of technology and innovation to address challenges across agriculture and the broader agri-food system. Potential areas of innovation may include: - Precision agriculture. - Farm management technology. - Agricultural supply chains. - Digital marketplaces. - Farm-to-market solutions. - Agricultural productivity. - Climate-smart agriculture. - Rural technology solutions. - Post-harvest management. - Technology-enabled access to agricultural services. Start-ups developing technology-driven solutions for farmers, agricultural enterprises, or the wider agricultural ecosystem may be relevant to this focus area. FinTech FinTech involves the application of technology to financial services and financial inclusion.

Potential innovation areas may include:

- Digital financial services. - Financial inclusion. - Digital payments. - Technology-enabled lending. - Financial management. - InsurTech. - Financial literacy. - Rural and underserved-market financial solutions. - Data-driven financial services. The programme can support innovators developing technology-based approaches to improve the accessibility, efficiency, or delivery of financial services. HealthTech HealthTech refers to technology and innovation designed to improve healthcare delivery, access, management, or outcomes.

Potential areas may include:

- Digital healthcare. - Healthcare accessibility. - Telehealth and remote services. - Health information systems. - Healthcare management technologies. - Diagnostic solutions. - Preventive healthcare technologies. - Technology-enabled health services. - Affordable healthcare innovations. Start-ups should demonstrate how their technology or innovation addresses a meaningful healthcare challenge. Who Is Eligible? The programme is intended for aspiring founders, innovators, and start-ups based in India that are developing solutions within the programme’s focus sectors.

Potential applicants include:

- Aspiring founders with innovative ideas. - Individual innovators. - Early-stage start-ups. - Technology-driven entrepreneurial ventures. - Start-ups developing AgriTech solutions. - Start-ups developing FinTech solutions. - Start-ups developing HealthTech solutions. Applicants should ensure that their proposed solution falls clearly within one of the programme’s focus sectors and satisfies all requirements specified in the applicable call for applications. What Financial Support Is Available? Selected start-ups can receive financial assistance of up to ₹8.5 lakh per start-up. The financial support is intended to complement the programme’s broader incubation and innovation assistance. The support can help selected founders and start-ups accelerate activities such as: - Product development. - Technology development. - Prototype improvement. - Validation and testing. - Business development. - Early-stage growth activities. Applicants should review the official programme terms to understand the precise permitted use of financial assistance and any applicable conditions. What Other Benefits Does the Programme Provide? Financial support is only one component of SBIF LEAP. Selected participants can also benefit from:

- Incubation support: Access to an environment designed to help early-stage ve