The government plans to bring large private companies into the startup ecosystem to mentor young entrepreneurs and help them build next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep tech, a senior government official said on Wednesday, ahead of National Startup Day on Friday.
As per a Hindustan Times report, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said India’s startup ecosystem has expanded rapidly since the launch of the Startup India initiative in 2016.
“When the Startup India initiative was launched by the Prime Minister in 2016, India had around 400 startups. Today, the country has over two lakh DPIIT-recognised startups,” Bhatia said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the main National Startup Day event on January 16.
Modi had first spoken about promoting entrepreneurship at the grassroots level during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2015. The Startup India initiative was formally launched on January 16, 2016, with the aim of turning India into a nation of job creators rather than job seekers.
According to DPIIT, startups recognised under the initiative have generated more than 2.1 million jobs so far.
Focus shifts to corporate–startup collaboration
The report further stated that Bhatia said the next phase of Startup India will focus on deeper collaboration between corporates and startups to nurture young technopreneurs and create cost-effective, innovation-driven supply chains.
He said startups working in AI and deep tech can develop customised solutions for large companies and integrate them into their manufacturing and business processes. This, he added, would help companies reduce costs while strengthening India’s high-tech ecosystem.
“We have been pushing corporates to deepen their engagement with startups. Companies can outsource problems to startups,” Bhatia said, adding that DPIIT has already signed several memoranda of understanding with private firms to facilitate such partnerships.
DPIIT joint secretary Sanjiv said the government’s role has been to act as an enabler by simplifying regulations, improving access to funding and providing mentorship platforms and global exposure.
“The success lies in sending a clear message — India believes in its entrepreneurs,” he said.
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Sanjiv said National Startup Day 2026 is significant as it marks 10 years of the Startup India initiative. The event will also coincide with the fifth edition of the State Startup Ranking Framework and the National Startup Awards 5.0.
“As we step into the next decade of Startup India, DPIIT remains committed to fostering innovation, inclusion and long-term growth,” he said.
According to DPIIT data, an average Indian startup generates 11 jobs. More than 52.6% of DPIIT-recognised startups are based in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and the department recognises nearly 80 startups every day.
