herSTART 5.0 is a women-focused startup support program led by GUSEC (Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council). It helps women entrepreneurs move from idea to growth through mentorship, accelerator support, and incubation.

The official program page highlights access to government grants and funds, along with incubation support at GUSEC. This is useful for founders who want structured guidance, credibility, and stronger ecosystem linkages.

If you want to apply professionally with a clear narrative and clean documents, StartupMandi can help.

Quick Grant Snapshot

1. Grant Name / Scheme Name: herSTART 5.0
2. Grant Provider / Organisation: GUSEC (Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council)
3. Sector / Focus Area: Women-led startups (multi-sector)
4. Geography / Eligible Location: Pan-India (Indian citizens)
5. Support Type: Accelerator + incubation + funding/grant access (not a fixed guaranteed payout)
6. Maximum Benefit (as positioned): Up to ₹50 lakh (as a potential grant/funding access pathway; actual benefit depends on selection and linkage)
7. Application Mode: Online
8. Official Apply Link: https://apply.herstart.in/
9. Application Start Date: 1 February 2026
10. Application Deadline: 10 March 2026
11. Result/Selection Timeline: Scrutiny typically takes 30–45 days (portal guidance); StartupMandi shows 25 March 2026 as an expected date (treat as indicative)

About the Grant Provider
GUSEC is the startup and entrepreneurship council at Gujarat University. It runs incubation, mentoring, and ecosystem programs. herSTART is its dedicated platform to support women entrepreneurs across India through structured growth support and opportunity linkages.

About the Scheme / Grant Program
herSTART 5.0 follows a structured journey designed to improve readiness for pilots, partnerships, and funding conversations.

1. Bootcamp: Shortlisted startups join structured sessions on core startup topics.
2. Accelerator: Expert sessions plus mentoring and industry connects.
3. Residential Program: Offline cohort engagement for deeper support.
4. Demo Day: Pitch for feedback and potential funding pathways.

Who Can Apply & Target Group

1. Type of entities: Individual women entrepreneurs, women founders, or women core team members; both registered and not-registered startups can apply (the form supports “Not Registered”).
2. Stage: Idea, PoC/prototype, MVP, market-ready, scaling (the form covers multiple stages).
3. Sector: Multi-sector (choose the closest match in the application portal).
4. Geography: Applicants across India.
5. Special focus: Women-owned / women-led ventures.

Detailed Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicant must be an Indian citizen (woman entrepreneur/founder/core team member).
2. Startup/business must be at least 50% women-owned.
3. The idea should be innovative and original.
4. Multiple ideas can be submitted, but only one idea per applicant is typically selected.
5. If selected, participation in the bootcamp (virtual) is expected/required.
6. Incorporation date/turnover limits are not clearly specified on the official program page; the portal collects stage and revenue inputs, which may influence evaluation.

Funding Support & Benefits

1. Access to government grants and funds (as stated on the official program page).
2. Up to 2-year incubation support at GUSEC.
3. Mentorship, guidance, and networking support.
4. Industry connects for business expansion.
5. Technology resources and prototyping facility support.
6. Dedicated co-working space and single-window startup support for women entrepreneurs.
7. Note on ₹50 lakh: StartupMandi and program communications position “up to ₹50 lakh” as a potential grant access figure; treat it as a maximum pathway, not a guaranteed amount for every applicant.

Documents Required While Applying

1. Pitch deck (PDF): The portal allows you to upload a pitch deck if you already have one.
2. Typically required (keep ready): Founder ID proof, proof of women ownership, incorporation documents (if registered), and basic traction/revenue proof (if applicable).

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Go to the official portal: https://apply.herstart.in/
2. Fill in founder details (name, email, mobile, city).
3. Add startup basics (startup name, problem statement, idea summary).
4. Select entity status (registered/not registered) and your startup stage.
5. Enter traction details carefully, especially revenue fields if applicable.
6. Choose the sector that best matches your startup.
7. Upload your pitch deck (PDF) (recommended, if available).
8. Submit the application and save your confirmation.
9. Track status here: https://apply.herstart.in/tracking
10. Fees: The portal states there is no application fee and warns applicants to avoid fraud.

Important Dates & Timeline

1. Application start date: 1 February 2026
2. Application deadline: 10 March 2026
3. Scrutiny/evaluation: Typically 30–45 days (portal guidance)
4. Expected result date: 25 March 2026 (listing; treat as indicative)
5. Program timeline: Launch Jan 2026, Bootcamp Mar 2026, Virtual Accelerator Apr 2026, Residential Jul 2026, Felicitation Sep 2026

Key Things to Keep in Mind While Applying

1. Keep your problem statement simple, real, and measurable (who is affected, what changes, why now).
2. Show women ownership and leadership clearly (50%+ women-owned is essential).
3. Ensure your form answers match your pitch deck (stage, traction, revenue, sector).
4. Add proof wherever possible (pilot notes, user feedback, traction numbers, partnerships).
5. Submit early to avoid the last-day rush and missed fields.

How StartupMandi Can Help You

StartupMandi lists verified grant and program opportunities and helps founders apply in an evaluator-friendly way.

1. Eligibility assessment and fit check
2. Application strategy and positioning
3. Pitch deck refinement (story, traction, go-to-market)
4. Form-ready answers and document packaging
5. Final review before submission

To apply professionally for herSTART 5.0, start from the StartupMandi listing and get expert support .

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

herSTART 5.0 is a practical opportunity for women-led startups to access mentoring, incubation support, and funding/grant pathways through GUSEC. Apply via the official portal before 10 March 2026. If you want a cleaner, stronger submission, use StartupMandi’s listing and expert support to apply professionally.