HDFC Bank to disburse ₹20 crore to startups by March

HDFC Bank announced plans Tuesday to allocate ₹20 crore in funding through its FY26 Parivartan Startup Grants initiative to advance social impact-focused innovations.

The initiative will fund 10 strategic projects targeting key sectors such as climate innovation, sustainable agriculture and livelihoods, MSME and manufacturing advancement, financial accessibility, and gender inclusion. Additional focus areas include emerging fields like artificial intelligence and deep tech solutions.

Operating through an incubator-partnership framework, the program delegates responsibilities including project design, startup selection, mentorship, and impact assessment to specialized incubation centers nationwide.

Our Parivartan Startup Grants initiative has become an industry benchmark by collaborating with institutions to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges,” stated HDFC Bank Deputy Managing Director Kaizad Bharucha.

The bank emphasized priorities including sector-specific development, ecosystem growth, and institutional capacity building to provide startups with continued structural support.

Since launching in 2017, the initiative has aided approximately 500 startups nationwide, with 87 ventures receiving support during FY25 through collaborations with over 130 Indian incubators.

Total grants disbursed exceed ₹85 crore, with nearly 40% of supported startups originating from Tier II and Tier III cities according to program data.

Published on January 20, 2026