iStart Rajasthan — Seed Funding up to ₹10 Lakh, Sustenance Allowance and QRate-Linked Support
Rajasthan's whole startup offer in one portal
iStart is the Government of Rajasthan's flagship startup programme, run by DoIT&C. Registration on the portal, through the Rajasthan SSO login, is the gateway to every benefit the state offers a startup: the sustenance allowance, seed funding, marketing assistance, the Techno Fund, free incubation at iStart Nest centres in Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur and other cities, and the ₹500 crore Bhamashah Startup Promotion Fund behind it.
The design is stage-gated. A startup is first rated on QRate — Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Signature — and the rating, together with the stage the startup is in, determines which benefit it can claim. Nothing is disbursed to an unrated startup.
What each stage unlocks
| Benefit | Amount | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Sustenance allowance | ₹25,000 per month urban; ₹10,000 per month rural; up to 12 months | Idea / prototype |
| Seed funding | Up to ₹10 lakh, no equity; idea-stage tranche around ₹2.5 lakh | Idea / prototype |
| Marketing assistance | Reimbursement of approved marketing spend | MVP |
| Techno Fund | Larger growth support from the Bhamashah fund | Early traction / scaling |
| Incubation | Free seats at iStart Nest, mentoring, events | Any stage after registration |
Department and evaluators
DoIT&C administers iStart. Applications are evaluated by an empanelled panel that assigns the QRate rating and recommends funding; the department sanctions and disburses. The Bhamashah Startup Promotion Fund provides the corpus.
Who can register
- •Entity registered or incorporated in Rajasthan — private limited company, LLP, registered partnership or proprietorship
- •Turnover not above ₹25 crore
- •Innovative product, process or service; DPIIT recognition helps the QRate score and is expected for most funding stages
- •QRate rating obtained before any financial claim
- •Stage matched to the benefit claimed: idea or prototype for sustenance and seed; MVP for marketing; early traction for Techno Fund
What the portal and the evaluators ask for
- •Rajasthan SSO ID and iStart registration
- •Certificate of Incorporation or partnership deed; proof of Rajasthan registered office
- •DPIIT recognition certificate, if held
- •PAN, GST registration, bank account details of the entity
- •Founder KYC (Aadhaar, PAN) and profiles
- •Pitch deck and product description with stage evidence — prototype photos or demo, MVP link, traction data
- •Financial statements or bank statements; turnover declaration
- •For seed funding: use-of-funds plan and milestones; for marketing assistance: invoices of the spend claimed
- •Declaration of other government support received
Questions founders ask about iStart
No. It is a grant with no equity dilution, paid in tranches against milestones after QRate rating and evaluation.
Registration in Rajasthan is expected. A branch office alone is usually not enough; the entity should be incorporated or registered in the state.
Typically a few weeks after the profile is complete. A thin profile gets a low rating; the rating can be improved on re-evaluation as the startup progresses.
Yes. iStart does not bar central support. Watch the other direction — some central schemes cap total prior government support, and iStart disbursals count toward it.