Karnataka is taking its startup support a step further with the Government First Initiative, a programme designed to help startups test deployment-ready solutions inside government departments and potentially take successful products into wider procurement.
Formulated under the Special Initiative of Karnataka’s Startup Policy 2025-30, the programme will support around 100 startups over three years. It has a total outlay of Rs 25 crore, with eligible startups able to receive work orders of up to Rs 25 lakh for pilot implementation and validation.
The Minister for Electronics, IT and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, said the initiative would build on the state’s existing startup support programmes.
“Karnataka is taking ELEVATE a step further with the Government First Initiative, a commitment to make the government a first customer and partner for promising startups. Our aim is to bring government and innovators together, making technology a powerful force for public good,” the minister said.
Government becomes the first customer
The Government First framework allows startups to propose their own solutions instead of waiting for government departments to announce a specific problem.Alongside this Startup-Initiated Route, departments can publish problem statements and invite startups to respond. This gives innovators two ways to enter the programme.
The framework also removes the requirement for previous government experience, potentially making public-sector opportunities more accessible to younger startups.
Selected proposals will undergo technical evaluation before being approved for pilots. The solutions will then be tested within government environments against defined outcomes. Successful pilots can move through a structured pathway from outcome assessment to procurement recommendation, followed by a work order and execution.
The programme therefore treats a pilot as more than a technology demonstration. Its stated aim is to create an outcome-driven route from testing to procurement.
Startups keep their intellectual property
Another provision allows startups to retain ownership of their intellectual property (IP), giving companies greater control over their proprietary technologies when deploying them through the programme.Solutions that work successfully in one department can also potentially be considered by other government departments. This could give startups a route to expand beyond their initial deployment.
The programme is focused on deployment-ready technology rather than early-stage research and development. Areas covered include AI, digital governance, healthcare, agriculture, education and mobility.
A three-tier oversight structure will support the initiative. A Selection Committee, Technical Committee and Review Committee will have defined responsibilities covering selection and pilot approval, implementation and milestone verification, and financial oversight.
From startup support to market access
The initiative reflects Karnataka’s attempt to create a clearer route between its startup ecosystem and government procurement.By allowing startups to test solutions in real government environments, the programme aims to help departments adopt useful technologies while allowing companies to establish public-sector market access.
For startups, the potential benefit extends beyond the initial Rs 25 lakh pilot. A successful deployment could lead to procurement and consideration for adoption across departments.
The Government First Initiative is therefore positioned as a way to connect startup innovation with public-service delivery, while giving Karnataka’s emerging companies a potential customer base within the government itself.