What Startup India does

Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, launched in 2016 and operated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its primary function is to provide official DPIIT recognition to eligible Indian startups, unlocking regulatory benefits including income tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC, self-certification under labour and environment laws, IPR fast-tracking, easier public procurement norms, and streamlined winding-up procedures. The initiative operates as a free, government-funded platform rather than a commercial entity; it has no pricing model, generates no revenue, and is classified as a government_state_entity wholly owned by the Government of India.

The underlying technology architecture is a digital portal-plus-services stack centered on startupindia.gov.in. Core platform products include BHASKAR (Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry) for ecosystem discovery, MAARG (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience and Growth Portal) for mentor-startup matchmaking, and DPIIT Recognition processing. Financial and connection services comprise the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Fund of Funds 2.0, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups, and Startup India Investor Connect, the last launched in March 2023 to formalize startup-investor matchmaking. Adjacent products include the States' Startup Ranking Framework, Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, National Startup Awards (now in edition 5.0), the Digital Ecosystem Map, IPR support, international Go-to-Market guides, and an incubator scheme directory aggregating 400+ incubators.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the self-serve portal, supplemented by state governments and UT policy partners, a 400+ incubator network, and flagship corporate co-development partners including The Estée Lauder Companies, Nykaa, Roche Pharma India, Messe Stuttgart India, Amazon Launchpad, Capgemini, Cisco, Boeing, Oracle, HDFC Bank, and Cipla. The initiative has scaled to 600,000+ self-certified registered startups, cumulative portal visits of approximately 10,981,843 since inception, DPIIT-recognized startup presence in all 36 States/UTs and 653 districts, and dedicated startup policies adopted by 31 of 36 States and Union Territories. Marketing and outreach run through social (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify), events (National Startup Day, Startup India Yatra, SCO Startup Forum, BRICS 2025), and the annual National Startup Awards.

Name

Startup India

Legal name

Startup India

Website

https://startupindia.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Startup India is a Government of India flagship initiative under DPIIT that provides free DPIIT recognition, tax exemptions, seed funding, mentorship, and investor connections to over 600,000 registered startups across all 36 States and Union Territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Startup Ecosystem Support

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA), National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Government startup ecosystem
• Startup recognition services
• Seed fund schemes
• Mentorship platform
• Investor connect platform

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Program Funding: Startup India is a government initiative under DPIIT that provides services to startups at no direct cost. The initiative is funded through government budgets and schemes including the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Fund of Funds, and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups. Revenue generation is indirect through fostering startup ecosystem growth that contributes to economic development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Startup India is a Government of India initiative under DPIIT that provides official startup recognition, tax exemptions, easier compliance, IPR fast-tracking, and access to funding schemes through a digital portal. It connects startups with investors, mentors, and incubators via dedicated platforms including BHASKAR (Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry), MAARG (Mentorship Portal), and Startup India Investor Connect. The initiative also administers the Seed Fund Scheme, Fund of Funds, Credit Guarantee Scheme, and runs flagship programs like National Startup Awards and States' Startup Ranking Framework.

Product overview

Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India (DPIIT) that provides a comprehensive ecosystem for startups through a platform-plus-services architecture. The core platform consists of BHASKAR (a digital registry and networking platform), MAARG (mentorship matching portal), and DPIIT Recognition system. Financial support is delivered through the Seed Fund Scheme, Fund of Funds, and Credit Guarantee Scheme. The portfolio also includes Startup India Investor Connect for funding connections, National Startup Awards for recognition, and the States' Startup Ranking Framework for ecosystem evaluation. Additional services span programs and challenges, international market access support, IPR assistance, incubator scheme information, and resource libraries covering online learning, market research, and startup guidance. The ecosystem also incorporates sector-specific initiatives like the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, National Startup Day, and participation in BRICS and SCO forums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BHASKAR (Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry): One-stop digital platform where diverse startup ecosystem stakeholders can seamlessly connect and collaborate
• MAARG
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
• National Startup Awards
• States Startup Ranking
• Startup India Investor Connect

Products and services

• BHASKAR (Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry) A one-stop digital platform providing comprehensive connection, knowledge sharing, and searchability for entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and policymakers across the Indian startup ecosystem.
• MAARG Mentorship Portal Portal facilitating intelligent matchmaking between mentors and startups across varied sectors at scale, providing mentorship, advisory, assistance, resilience, and growth support.
• DPIIT Recognition Official startup recognition process by DPIIT enabling eligible companies to access tax benefits, easier compliance, IPR fast-tracking, and other government startup benefits.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) Financial assistance scheme providing funds to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialisation stages.
• Startup India Investor Connect Dedicated platform connecting startups to investors, promoting entrepreneurship and accelerating engagements across diverse sectors, functions, stages, geographies, and backgrounds.
• National Startup Awards Marquee initiative recognizing exceptional startups across India creating economic and societal impact across 20+ categories, with cash prizes and handholding support including investor and government connections.
• States' Startup Ranking Framework Annual capacity building exercise developed to build a conducive startup ecosystem across India through sustained efforts of States and Union Territories.
• Startup India Programs and Challenges Diverse array of programs and challenges offered in collaboration with top enablers and government agencies to help startups access financial benefits, learning, networking, and market access opportunities.
• International Bridges (India Go-to-Market Guide) Support services for startups to access international markets including the India Go-to-Market Guide and international engagement programs.
• Bharat Startup Grand Challenge Grand challenge initiative to source and support innovative startup solutions addressing key national priorities.
• Intellectual Property Rights Support Patent application assistance and IPR protection services for startups including fast-tracking and support mechanisms.
• Startup India Digital Ecosystem Map Digital platform for exploring the startup ecosystem across India, allowing search and connection with startups, mentors, incubators, investors, and other ecosystem players.
• Fund of Funds Scheme Corpus scheme for contribution to various SEBI-registered Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) for funding of startups.
• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups Credit guarantee scheme providing collateral-free loans to startups.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• The Estée Lauder Companies and NykaaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2026BEAUTY&YOU India is a beauty entrepreneurship program in its fifth edition, offering a prize pool of up to $500,000 USD across five categories. The partnership has evolved into a strategic investment platform supporting Indian beauty brands, technologies, and ingredient innovation. Applications open through August 25, 2026, with finalists presenting to an industry panel in Mumbai in October.
• Eco Kranti (SSRDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2026Eco Kranti Shubh Labh 1.0 National Summit held July 18-19 at The Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru, bringing together 250+ startups, researchers, and innovators. Over 30 startups selected for the cohort. Eco Kranti has reached 10,000+ households and prevented nearly 200 tonnes of single-use plastic waste over two years.
• Roche Pharma IndiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Joint Drishti HealthTech Challenge under the Startup India program, where Artelus was selected as winner from over 80 competing startups. Artelus receives INR 35 lakhs grant to co-develop and pilot its DRISTi diabetic retinopathy screening solution in partnership with Roche Pharma India.
• Messe Stuttgart IndiacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2025Partnership for LogiMAT India 2025, a logistics trade fair providing platform for logistics startups to connect with investors and showcase innovations. The collaboration aligns with the government's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and aims to position India among the top 25 countries in the Logistics Performance Index by 2030.
• Amazon LaunchpadcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner program showcasing startup products and providing go-to-market support through Amazon's platform.
• Capgemini, Cisco, Boeing, Oracle, HDFC Bank, Cipla, and other ecosystem partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple corporate partners participating in Startup India programs and challenges, providing market access, mentorship, and investment opportunities for recognized startups.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/startupindia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqFb-ynHTJ6_YRbdn-sFUvg
• Facebookfacebook.com/StartupIndia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startup-india
• Instagraminstagram.com/startupindia.gov.in

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Startup India