Govt K-SAP Official Notification – Karnataka Startup Advancement Programme 2024 – If You Are A Startup Apply Now!

Advancement programmes are instrumental in guiding startups through various stages of growth within entrepreneurial ecosystems. These programmes offer a range of resources, including mentorship, funding access, and tailored education, designed to steer startups from their early phases towards sustainable scalability.

Karnataka, recognized as India’s foremost biotech hub, hosts a significant 60% of the nation’s biotech industries. The state’s commitment to fostering innovation and technology is evident through initiatives harnessing the wealth of talent, especially in biotechnology field.

In line with Karnataka’s thriving biotech landscape, C-CAMP, along with the support from Department of IT, BT, and S&T, Government of Karnataka, has introduced the Karnataka Startup Advancement Programme (K-SAP). This initiative directly aligns with the state’s dedication to nurturing startups, aiming to propel them towards success and longevity within the dynamic entrepreneurial environment.

Eligibility criteria for applying to Karnataka Startup Advancement Programme, K-SAP is listed below:

1. Startup should be registered in Karnataka under Companies Act 2013
2. Any startup working
   in area of life sciences, including but not limited to –
   1. Healthcare (Drug Discovery, Devices, Diagnostics, Digital Health, AI&ML)
   2. Agriculture and allied (Agritech, Nutraceuticals, Food, Soil Health, Plant based therapeutics, aquaculture)
   3. Animal Health
   4. Industrial Biotechnology
   5. Clean & Renewable Energy
   6. Water & Sanitation
   7. Environment & Climate Change

• To meaningfully engage and work closely with life sciences startups from Karnataka to increase their chances of success
• To enable startups achieve faster traction in their key milestones

The K-SAP provides:

• Deep Dive Mentorship
• Facilitation for IP, Regulatory, and Administrative support
• Funding Assistance
• Networking Events – Opportunity to explore Partnerships and Collaboration; Domain-specific Workshops

• Primary criteria: Scientific rationale behind the Idea/Technology/Solution and Business Potential
• Secondary criteria: Can include team strength, funding raised and sources of funding, traction achieved etc.

• The selected startups have to commit to a full participation throughout the duration of the programme
• K-SAP is an equity-based programme and C-CAMP shall hold upto 2% equity or equivalent instrument (debentures, preferential shares).
• The template of agreement between start-ups and C-CAMP is provided here

• Startup should be covered within the definition of Start-up as prescribed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
• Startup definition: An entity shall be considered as Startup:

1. Upto a period of ten years from the date of incorporation/registration, if it is incorporated as a private limited company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013) or registered as a partnership firm (registered under section 59 of the Partnership Act, 1932) or a limited liability partnership (under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) in India.
2. Turnover of the entity for any of the financial years since incorporation/registration has not exceeded one hundred crore rupees.
3. Entity is working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or processes or services, or if it is a scalable business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.

• Provided that an entity formed by splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business shall not be considered a ‘Startup’
• At the time of applying, applicant should have signing authority to sign the Shareholding Agreement and the right to exercise or cause to be exercised any or all of the rights attached to transfer the equity

1. Certificate of Incorporation
2. Memorandum of Association
3. Article of Association
4. List of shareholders & Directors
5. Incubation agreement if any
6. License agreement if any
7. Other agreements, Letter of Intents (LOI), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), If any, please provide the details.
8. Ethical/Regulatory approval to pursue the idea if any, at the time of application.
9. Other documents necessary as per the programme requirements.