Government First Initiative

Overview

Under the Government First Initiative, startups with innovative, deployment-ready solutions will have a unique opportunity to engage directly with the Government of Karnataka as a potential customer, with the objective of addressing critical government problem statements.

Selected startups will receive a direct work order of up to ₹25 lakhs, subject to technical evaluation. The initiative aims to enable startups to pilot, test, and validate their solutions in a real-world government environment.

Through a structured approach, solutions that demonstrate measurable impact, operational effectiveness, and value for public service delivery may be considered for procurement in Government Departments, Boards and Corporations.
The initiative seeks to foster innovation by providing startups registered in Karnataka with early market access, real-world validation opportunities, and a clear pathway to Government adoption. At the same time, it ensures a transparent, merit-based evaluation process, enabling the Government to identify and adopt proven, scalable solutions that deliver meaningful outcomes and strengthen public service delivery.

Important Links

Government Order

Government First Initiative – Government Order

Download Government Order

Click Here to Register with Startup Karnataka

Submit your application through the online portal.

Register Now

Eligibility

To qualify for the Government First, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

  • Be incorporated as:
    • Private Limited Company (Companies Act, 2013)
    • OPC Private Limited (Companies Act, 2013)
    • Registered Partnership Firm (Partnership Act, 1932)
    • Limited Liability Partnership (LLP Act, 2008)
    • Multi-State Cooperative Society registered with the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002) or a Cooperative Society registered under any State or Union Territory Cooperative Societies Act with the respective Registrar of Cooperative Societies in India.
  • Turnover for any financial year since incorporation/registration must not have exceeded INR 200 Crore for non-Deeptech Startups and INR 300 Crore for Deeptech Startup.
  • Be within 10 years for non-Deeptech Startups and 20 years for Deeptech Startups from the date of incorporation at the time of application.
  • Be an independent entity and not a subsidiary, spin-off, or internal division of an existing company.
  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL ≥ 7): Solutions must be validated in operational environments and ready for real-world testing.
  • Be addressing a real-world problem in industry, society, or the environment, or creating a new market opportunity.

Selection Process

Post submission of the online application form published by the Department, the selection process will involve the following stages of evaluation.

1

Stage 1: Eligibility check and document verification – Data Sufficiency

2

Stage 2: Solution Evaluation (Pitch Deck and In-person pitching)

3

Stage 3: Final Selection of a Startup for a Problem Statement

The selection of startup will be followed by the Work Order being awarded to the selected startup to deploy its solution. The progress of the pilot will be evaluated in a time bound manner.

Evaluation Parameters

Applications will be evaluated based on the following Parameters:

Parameter Marks Evaluation Criteria
Innovation & Differentiation20Novelty, uniqueness, use of emerging technologies
Technical Soundness15Architecture, reliability, robustness
Product Readiness (TRL ≥ 7)15Deployment readiness, maturity
Applicability to Government Use15Relevance, contextual fit, usability
Scalability10Potential to scale across geographies/departments
Integration Capability5Compatibility with existing systems
Socio-Economic Impact10Impact on governance, economy, and citizen services
Team Capability5Expertise and execution ability
Grants / Government Support Received5Prior grants, funding, or institutional support
Sustainability & Maintenance5Long-term viability and support

Key Highlights

The Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Department of E, IT & Bt will act as the Nodal Department for the implementation and governance of the initiative, including the publication of problem statements, calls for applications, coordination with Government Departments and various committees, and overall programme design and oversight.
The Department will be responsible for the constitution of the Selection Committee, Technical Committee, and Review Committee, as well as for fund management and the release of financial support based on committee recommendations.
In addition, the Department will undertake capacity building exercise for the nodal officers, appointed under Government First by respective Departments, to provide policy and procedural support. This will facilitate the development and strengthening of broader innovation in the startup ecosystem.

General Terms and Conditions

  1. Startups must be registered with KITS.
  2. The Company/Firm should submit a valid Incorporation certificate (in case of Pvt Ltd/OPC/LLP) /Registered partnership deed and Registration certificate (in case of Partnership firm). Acknowledgement receipt of the above shall not be considered.
  3. Documents not accepted as valid registration certificates: MSME, Udyog Aadhaar, GST, Trade Union, KMF, VAT certificates, or registration with shops and establishments.
  4. Startup must not:
    • A subsidiary, franchise, reseller, or part of a group company.
    • A Section 8 company, trust, society, association, or non-profit entity.
    • A merger/demerger from a larger company.
    • Part of Government initiative, PPP, or aided partner.
  5. In the event that two or more applicant entities sharing a common promoter, director, or partner for the final stage of selection, the highest-scoring startup shall take precedence.
  6. Only one application per entity will be accepted. If multiple applications are submitted by the same entity, only the valid application will be reviewed and considered for evaluation, while other applications shall be summarily rejected.
  7. Applications that do not meet eligibility criteria or lack supporting documents will be disqualified at any stage, resulting in the cancellation of their application or grant.
Know More About Problem Statements

Mandatory Documents

Please ensure that the following documents are ready as per the format and file size mentioned.

1. Incorporation / Registration Certificate

PDF Format, file size to be less than 2 MB

2. Company MoA / Partnership Deed / LLP Deed

PDF Format, file size should be less than 2 MB

3. Startup Affidavit

Startup Affidavit signed by Promoters and notarized on INR 100 (Rupees One Hundred Only) e-stamp paper (First party: Your Startup Name; Second Party: KARNATAKA INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY). PDF format, file size < 2 MB.

Download Affidavit
4. Solution Docket

PDF Format following the slide number, font style, size and format with final file size less than 10 MB.

Download Pitch Deck

Problem Statement Documents

BWSSB – Transforming Urban Water Management

Click Here to Apply

Problem Statement 1: AI-Driven Reduction of Non-Revenue Water (NRW)

Download

Problem Statement 2: AI-Based Treated Wastewater Reuse Planning

Download

Problem Statement 3: Intelligent Asset Management

Download

Problem Statement 4: GIS-Enabled Revenue and Operational Intelligence

Download

Problem Statement 5: Digital Twin for Integrated Water Management

Download

Praja Seva – Reimagining Citizen-Centric Governance

Click Here to Apply

Problem Statement 1: AI-Enabled Grievance Management and Redressal

Download

Problem Statement 2: AI-Powered Unified Citizen Call Centre

Download

Problem Statement 3: AI-Enabled e-Office and Unified Office Workflow

Download

Problem Statement 4: Ensuring Uptime and Availability of Citizen-Facing Government IT Services

Download
Apply By: 23 Oct 2026, 5:00 PM Applications open from 08 Oct 2026, 9:00 AM.
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