Our flagship program. NEATEHUB runs three stage-based sub-programs under RKVY RAFTAAR - Navyam for student founders, Isanya for idea-stage, and Saranya for growth-stage ventures. One funder, one framework, three doors.
RKVY RAFTAAR is a single central-government program with three stage-based sub-programs inside it. Founders enter at the stage that fits them, and the structure allows movement between sub-programs as the venture matures - Navyam founders graduate into Isanya; Isanya graduates step up to Saranya. Same funder, same eligibility envelope, escalating capital.
All three sit under RKVY RAFTAAR - same funder, same NEATEHUB management. They differ on capital ceiling, format, and who they're built for.
Curriculum-integrated entrepreneurship pathway for student founders at AAU and Northeast universities. A sandbox grant (for idea validation and prototype development), lab time, and a mentor.
An 8-week intensive for a cohort of 12 idea-stage founders. Lab access, agriculture scientist mentorship, and a founder community - run as a mix of virtual and on-campus sessions.
For ventures past pilot with paying customers. Capital up to ₹25L, dedicated GTM mentorship, follow-on networks. Non-residential. Milestone-tranched capital.
These apply to all three sub-programs of RKVY. Sub-program-specific additions are listed inside each card above.
Active recognition from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. If you're not yet recognised, sort that first - one-form online application, turns around in 2-3 weeks. Navyam (student) applicants are exempt from this requirement.
Calculated from the date of incorporation on your MCA filing. Older ventures fall outside the central scheme guidelines.
For Saranya: real users running the product with data. For Isanya: working prototype with at least one validated user interview cycle. For Navyam: a working concept and a feasibility plan.
Agri-input, post-harvest, livestock, fisheries, food processing, agri-services, agri-fintech. If you're unsure whether your venture qualifies, ask our AI- it'll route you correctly.
Majority equity held by Indian citizens. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are eligible. Foreign founders are not, under the central scheme.
Not required - RKVY is a central scheme - but weighted positively. If you don't have NE operations, name a credible plan to develop one.
If your edge is procurement or geography, this isn't your program. We look for a technical, process, or product innovation that's reproducible. ASRLM may be a better fit for producer-aggregation businesses.
How a cohort runs, start to finish. Founders are screened, incubated, and pitch to two committees before the Selection & Investment Committee decides on funding.
When a cohort opens we announce it, and the application window goes live.
Submit your application, deck, and pilot data through the portal.
We screen every application against clear screening guidelines and shortlist.
Shortlisted founders enter incubation - a mix of virtual and physical sessions, mentorship, and lab access.
First review pitch to the Cohort Incubation Committee (CIC I).
Keep building, with feedback from CIC I folded in.
Second pitch to the Cohort Incubation Committee (CIC II).
Final pitch to the Selection & Investment Committee, which decides on funding.
Selected founders are called to the cohort valedictory.
We complete due diligence on the selected ventures.
Grant-in-aid is released to the funded ventures.
Twelve cohorts since 2019, across all three sub-programs. Applications for the next cohort will be announced here.
Our most recent cohort - ₹1.3 crore in grant-in-aid deployed across 18 startups.
Twelve cohorts across Navyam, Isanya, and Saranya - ₹10 crore in grant-in-aid deployed in total.
Our startups went on to raise an additional ₹20 crore in grants and venture capital after the program.
Moments of recognition for NEATEHUB and our RKVY RAFTAAR founders. More to come.
Four ventures funded through Saranya across different cohorts.
Apply to the sub-program, not the parent. RKVY RAFTAAR is the funder framework; Isanya / Saranya / Navyam are the doors you actually walk through. The application form has a sub-program dropdown - pick the one that matches your stage.
If you're not sure which one fits, run the eligibility wizard. It will route you to a specific sub-program.
Yes - that's the whole point of the structure. Navyam graduates can apply directly to Isanya without going through the full intake again. Isanya alumni get a fast-track to Saranya when they hit the revenue threshold. About 30% of our Saranya cohort came from Isanya.
No. Across sub-programs, capital is released in milestone-linked tranches. Saranya: 3 tranches over 12-18 months. Isanya: 2 tranches over 8 weeks. Navyam: usually 1-2 tranches over 2 semesters. Each tranche is gated on the milestone plan we set together in week 1.
No. The program is non-residential - you run your venture from wherever you're based. You'll come to Jorhat for key moments like the committee pitches and the valedictory, but you don't have to move.
No equity - it's pure grant-in-aid. RKVY RAFTAAR is a central-government grant, so NEATEHUB takes no stake in your venture across any of the three sub-programs.
We route - not reject. If RKVY's sub-programs don't fit, we check AIC, ASRLM, Student First, and TIC-AISF. If nothing fits, we tell you why and suggest who else might. Edge cases route to a callback, not a form letter.
RKVY RAFTAAR runs by cohort, not rolling intake - there's no open application form right now. Cohort 12 has wrapped. When the next cohort opens, we post it to the Newsroom and up top on the site. Follow along there so you don't miss the window.
Applications open only when a cohort is announced. We'll flag it in the Newsroom and via the site banner.
