Contributed by Boniface Pascalraj who leads the incubation program at SSN iFound. This article was first published in his personal blog.
There is a mindset that I have increasingly noticed among some early-stage startup founders, and it is worth challenging.
“Let us wait till the next government grant is sanctioned to move forward.”
This belief system stalls innovation. Startups pause product development when funds dry up. They wait for the next scheme, stay in limbo, and delay decisions. There is:
- No personal skin in the game.
- No attempt to start selling.
- No urgency to commercialize.
This is not startup building. This is grant management.
Startups Are Not Research Projects
A startup is not a university thesis or a proof-of-concept waiting for a paper presentation.
It is a real business being built in the real world with customers, revenue, and risk.
- Startups must ship, sell, and scale.
- Startups are about momentum, market validation, and growth, not grant-hopping.
Yes, grants are important. But they are support tools, not the core engine of progress.
What Government Grants Are (And Aren’t)
Government schemes, especially in India like NIDHI-PRAYAS, TIDE 2.0, and and SISFS, are fantastic enablers. They exist to:
- De-risk early-stage innovation
- Provide breathing room for initial development
- Bridge the pre-revenue or pre-seed gap
But here is what they are not meant for:
- Sustaining startups indefinitely
- Replacing entrepreneurial ownership
- Becoming your primary business model
Own Your Journey
If you are serious about building something meaningful, do this:
- Start Selling Early: Even with a basic version, test your market. Selling validates, refines, and funds your product.
- Invest Your Own Resources: Whether it’s time, savings, or creativity, personal investment builds conviction.
- Keep the Ball Rolling: Momentum attracts mentors, investors, and customers. Stillness signals uncertainty.
Because the hard truth is:
No investor or grant agency will believe in your startup more than you do.
If you treat your venture like a side hustle, expect the world to do the same.
Related Read
Chasing Excellence, Not Perfection: A Business Leader’s Perspective
A powerful reminder to act with urgency and purpose, even before everything is “perfect.”
Let grants support your startup, not define it.
Be a founder who builds.
Not someone who waits.
Because real founders don’t just chase funds.
They create value.