Capex & equipment
Machinery, production tooling, lab equipment, and one-time infrastructure costs for hardware and manufacturing startups.
Capital for the ones building what's next.
Most early-stage founders in India don't fail because of bad ideas — they fail because of bad timing, thin capital, and no bridge between a working prototype and a real business. Samivra runs verified startup fundraisers for capex, product development, market entry, tooling and early operating costs — with milestone-based disbursement.
What this category covers
Startup needs we fund on the platform
Startup fundraisers are milestone-based by design. Every category below is released against a specific deliverable — not upfront.
Product development
MVP builds, product design, prototyping and pre-launch development costs — before revenue begins.
Market entry & go-to-market
First marketing push, sales infrastructure, channel launch and initial customer acquisition costs.
Tooling & software
Annual software licences, cloud infrastructure, SaaS tools and early-stage tech stack costs.
Compliance & IP
Trademark filing, patent applications, legal costs, company registration and statutory compliance.
Working capital (limited)
Short-term working capital against a specific, time-bound contract or order — not for general salaries or overheads.
Note: Salary funding is not covered under startup
crowdfunding. This is by design — startup fundraisers on Samivra
fund growth infrastructure, not operating payroll.
The deal flow
From pitch to disbursement — five stages
Startup fundraisers follow a rigorous review process. Every campaign is treated as a mini due-diligence exercise.
Application
Founder submits pitch, business plan, financials and use-of-funds breakdown.
Review
Internal team reviews traction, market, founder background and funding need.
Verification
Registration, bank details, IP status and milestone plan confirmed with documents.
Approval
Approved, returned for changes or declined — with recorded reasons at every step.
Disbursement
Milestone-based release against invoices, deliverables and progress reports.
Important: Every release is matched to a
specific milestone. Founders do not receive funds as a lump sum
— capital is deployed stage by stage, against verified
deliverables.
Who can raise
Verified startup fundraisers can be started by
Every startup fundraiser is document-verified before it goes live. Here's who can start one.
Founder
Registered entity founders
Founders of a registered private limited company, LLP or partnership — with current registration documents.
Sole Proprietor
Sole proprietors
Established sole proprietorships with GST registration, business banking and documented traction.
Incubator
Incubators & accelerators
Recognised incubators raising on behalf of a cohort — with separate documentation per startup.
Student
Student entrepreneurs
Students running early-stage ventures — with institutional endorsement, founder documentation and parent consent where applicable.
Documents required
What you'll need to start a fundraiser
Startup fundraisers require deeper documentation than other categories. Here's the standard set.
01 · Entity
Company / LLP / firm registration certificate + GST certificate
02 · Founder
Founder ID proof + PAN + proof of directorship
03 · Plan
Business plan + financial model + use-of-funds breakdown
04 · Traction
Evidence of traction — customer contracts, revenue reports, LOIs, pilot data
05 · Quote
Quotations for capex / vendor / software from third-party providers
06 · Milestone
Milestone plan with clear deliverables and timelines
07 · Bank
Business bank account details in the entity's name
08 · Legal
IP status declaration (if applicable) + any pending litigation disclosure
Note: Startup fundraisers that cannot provide
milestone documentation or verified traction are declined. Crowdfunding
is not a substitute for seed funding or venture capital — it's a
bridge for specific, documented gaps.
Fund flow
Where the money goes — and where it doesn't
Startup crowdfunding is milestone-driven by design. Here's exactly how funds move.
Donation received
Funds collected via verified payment channels in a designated campaign account.
Milestone verification
Each release is triggered by a completed milestone — matched against invoices, deliverables or service confirmation.
Direct vendor / entity payment
Funds are released to the verified vendor, service provider or the entity's business account — not to personal accounts of founders.
Progress reporting
Founders submit regular progress reports. Any deviation from the milestone plan requires review before next release.
Excess handling
If funds exceed the verified milestone need, excess is returned to donors or held for the next milestone — with disclosure.
Receipts & closure
Donors receive receipts. A final utilisation summary is prepared and the campaign is closed.
What's covered
Clear boundaries, so there are no surprises
Startup crowdfunding has stricter boundaries than any other category. Here's what is and isn't allowed.
What's covered
- Capex, machinery, tooling and equipment
- Product development and MVP build-out
- Software licences and cloud costs
- Go-to-market launch costs
- Compliance, IP filing and legal costs
- Milestone-based working capital (with a specific order/contract)
- Third-party vendor payments for documented needs
What's not covered
- Founder salaries or employee payroll
- Equity, debt or investment vehicles
- Personal loans or credit card debt
- Marketing without a specific GTM plan
- Cash to the founder's personal account
- Entities without registration or GST
- Speculative or unregistered ventures
FAQ
Common questions about startup crowdfunding
Is this equity crowdfunding?
No. Samivra does not offer equity, debt or any form of investment in exchange for funding. Startup fundraisers on our platform are cause-based crowdfunding — donors contribute to a specific, documented milestone, not to acquire ownership.
Why can't I fund salaries?
Because salary funding does not create verifiable deliverables. Every rupee raised on Samivra's startup category is mapped to a milestone — equipment bought, software licensed, IP filed, product shipped. This protects donors and keeps campaigns accountable. Founders needing runway should pursue seed funding or revenue-first models.
How does milestone-based release work?
Funds are released in stages. Each release is triggered by a completed milestone — verified against invoices, delivery confirmations or service receipts. Deviations from the plan are reviewed before the next release. Founders do not receive funds as a lump sum.
Can student ventures apply?
Yes — with additional documentation: institutional endorsement, founder documentation, and parent / guardian consent where the founder is under 18. Student ventures must have a registered entity or an established sole proprietorship with GST.
What if the startup pivots mid-campaign?
Pivots are disclosed and reviewed. If the new plan still fits within the campaign's original intent and documented milestones, the campaign can be updated. Otherwise, remaining funds are either returned to donors or held pending a new milestone plan — with full disclosure.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Generally no. Commercial startup campaigns are not typically structured as charitable donations. Tax benefits depend on the specific structure and whether the fundraiser is run through a registered entity with valid 12A/80G certification. This is clearly stated on each campaign page where applicable.
Fund the next good idea.
Every contribution funds a verified, milestone-based startup need — with direct vendor payment and transparent reporting.