Startup India
Startup India is a Government of India initiative under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, launched on January 16, 2016, that fosters entrepreneurship through startup recognition, tax exemptions, funding schemes, regulatory support, and nationwide ecosystem building across India.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Startup India firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup India
- Legal name
- Startup India (DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India)
- Website
- https://startupindia.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Startup India is a Government of India initiative under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, launched on January 16, 2016, that fosters entrepreneurship through startup recognition, tax exemptions, funding schemes, regulatory support, and nationwide ecosystem building across India.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup India industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Entrepreneurship Development Services
- NAICS
- Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)
Keywords
Where Startup India is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Startup India business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Licensing Royalties: Startup India is a Government of India initiative under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, designed to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. It is a policy support program, not a revenue-generating entity.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Startup India product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup India is a Government of India policy initiative under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, that provides startup recognition, tax exemptions, funding access via Fund of Funds and Seed Fund schemes, regulatory relaxations, public procurement access through GeM, mentorship, and incubator network support to early-stage and growth-stage Indian startups. It operates as a national ecosystem-building program rather than a commercial product or service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ENTICE 3.0: Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge - a program supporting clean-tech innovators addressing grid-level challenges in India
- iCreate Drone Challenge
- National Startup Day
- AI for Healthy India Challenge
- Bharat Startup Grand Challenge – Fortify to Scale
- Plastic-Free Future Packathon
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2.23 lakh startups recognized since 2016
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Startup India
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Startup India technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Startup India partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- ZomatocoreCollaboration on the Plastic-Free Future Packathon to support entrepreneurs developing plastic alternatives for food delivery packaging. Linked to Zomato's Plastic-Free Future Program launched December 2024 with 10,000+ restaurants in 500+ cities.
- MeitY Startup HubflagshipCo-lead of #100DesiDeepTechs nation-building initiative recognizing deep-tech startups shaping India's future, co-led with Startup India and IIT Madras.
- IIT MadrasflagshipCo-lead of #100DesiDeepTechs initiative recognizing 100 deep-tech startups with policy recommendations and government engagement.
- FICCIminorMoU signed to strengthen lab-to-market innovation pathways and state-centre collaboration through FICCI-PSA forum.
- NasscomminorSupporting partner for Google for Startups India AI programme and broader ecosystem development initiatives.
- Google Play Accelerator IndiacoreAI-focused 2026 cohort accelerator opened for applications, offering Indian startups path to scale through Google's platform ecosystem.
- Global Energy Alliance for People and PlanetflagshipJoint launch of ENTICE 3.0, an Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge offering up to $100,000 grants for non-lithium energy storage and AI-driven grid demand forecasting solutions. Previous editions attracted 400+ applications and engaged 20 investors.
- BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL)coreDeployment partner for ENTICE 3.0 winners providing real-world deployment opportunities for clean-tech solutions in Delhi's power distribution sector.
- Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL)coreDeployment partner for ENTICE 3.0 winners providing real-world deployment opportunities for clean-tech solutions in Rajasthan's power distribution sector.
- GoogleflagshipGoogle for Startups India AI skilling programme supporting early-stage founders with two-week training on Gemini, Imagen, Veo, and AI Studio tools. Supported by MeitY Startup Hub, Startup India, IndiaAI Mission, and Nasscom.
- NXP Indiaflagship6th season of NXP India Tech Startup Challenge focused on deep-tech and semiconductor startups. Top 3 winners receive INR 10 lakh prize money plus mentorship; top 10 get equity-free incubation at leading institutions including Electropreneur Park, IISc Bengaluru, and IIT Hyderabad.
- European UnionflagshipEU-India Startup Partnership announced during 16th India-EU Summit. Includes Innovation Hubs and potential association to Horizon Europe (EUR 93.5 billion research programme). Both powers pursuing technological strategic autonomy.
- Alibaba.comcoreExport partnership to help Indian startups and MSMEs reach overseas buyers via Alibaba.com's global B2B platform, offering commissions and technical support. Represents carefully circumscribed engagement with Chinese-linked technology for clear export benefits.
- iCreatecoreCo-launched Drone Challenge (iDC) 2025 under Bharat Startup Grand Challenge initiative. 14 shortlisted startups from 500+ applications across 26 states access funding pool of Rs 2 crore and mentorship for aerial excellence and component indigenisation.
- Estée Lauder CompaniescorePartnership with Beauty & You incubator programme supporting beauty and personal care entrepreneurs in India. Startup India added as new partner in fourth year, with almost 2,500 applicants from 150+ cities.
- Infineon IndiacoreMoU signed to support startups through design challenges leveraging power semiconductor and IoT technologies. Aligns with Make in India initiative to accelerate innovation-to-market cycles for microelectronics ecosystem.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Startup India competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Startup Genome: US-based global startup ecosystem research and policy advisory organization. Comparable to Startup India as both focus on ecosystem-level growth measurement, founder support programs, and government advisory work, though Startup Genome operates as a private research/consulting entity rather than a government program.
- Y Combinator: The world's largest startup accelerator, providing seed funding, mentorship, and demo days to early-stage startups. Comparable as both run accelerator-style programs that have produced outsized numbers of unicorns and operate challenge/pitch competitions at scale.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network with mentorship-driven programs and corporate partnerships. Comparable to Startup India in providing structured accelerator experiences, partner ecosystem access (Microsoft, Google, etc.), and seed-stage capital.
Direct peers
- MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator offering equity-free programs to early-stage startups with industry-specific verticals. Comparable to Startup India's equity-free recognition and seed funding model, and its challenge-based vertical programs (HealthTech, FinTech, etc.).
- Startup Chile (CORFO): Government-run startup program under Chile's economic development agency, providing equity-free seed capital and visa support to attract global founders. Most directly comparable as a government-backed equivalent of Startup India in emerging-market ecosystem building.
- MeitY Startup Hub: Indian government initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and IT supporting deep-tech and electronics startups. Comparable as a sister government program to Startup India, both operating challenge programs, seed funding, and deep-tech incubation in India.
- iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology): India's flagship autonomous startup incubation center with hardware/drone focus. Comparable as a key Startup India delivery partner running the iCreate Drone Challenge, and as an Indian deep-tech incubator offering equity-free support and seed funding.
- Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog): Indian government flagship initiative promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Incubation Centers. Comparable as a parallel government program building India-wide startup infrastructure with school-level to seed-stage support.
Regional players
- Station F: French government-backed startup campus — the world's largest — hosting accelerator programs from Y Combinator, Microsoft, and others. Comparable as a government-enabled ecosystem hub with state backing, though focused on physical infrastructure rather than recognition/funding programs.
Emerging players
- Endeavor: Global high-impact entrepreneur support organization with presence in 40+ markets including India. Comparable as both focus on scaling high-growth startups with mentorship, network access, and follow-on capital pathways.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Startup India social profiles
Digital presenceStartup India financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup India leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Startup India subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Startup India funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup India M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup India
What does Startup India do?
Startup India is a Government of India policy initiative under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, that provides startup recognition, tax exemptions, funding access via Fund of Funds and Seed Fund schemes, regulatory relaxations, public procurement access through GeM, mentorship, and incubator network support to early-stage and growth-stage Indian startups. It operates as a national ecosystem-building program rather than a commercial product or service.
Is Startup India a public or private company?
Startup India is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Startup India founded?
Startup India was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Startup India based?
Startup India is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Startup India make money?
One revenue line is on record: licensing Royalties.
Who are Startup India's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Startup Genome, Y Combinator and Techstars. Direct peers are MassChallenge, Startup Chile (CORFO), MeitY Startup Hub, iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) and Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog). Station F is listed as a regional player. Endeavor is listed as an emerging player.
Does Startup India have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup India.
What industry is Startup India in?
Startup India's product category is Government Entrepreneurship Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAA, Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics. Its NAICS code is 92611.