India Now Boasts 1,57,066 Recognised Startups, 73,000 with at Least One Woman Director: Centre

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognised at least 157,066 startups so far. The portal has 759,303 registered users till December 25, said the government on Wednesday.

The country has emerged to be one of the world's most vibrant startup ecosystems, which makes it the world's third largest startup hub. With over 100 unicorns, the Indian startup landscape is shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Now, more than 73,000 startups with at least one-woman director have been recognized under the 'Startup India Initiative', almost half of the 1,57,066 startups supported by the government, as per Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

"The entrepreneurial spirit in India has seen a paradigm shift over the last decade. Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR have emerged as epicentres of innovation," the ministry said.

This year, 13 new-age companies launched their initial public offerings (IPOs), as startups cumulatively raised more than Rs 29,200 crore from the stock market. From this, fresh issue is nearly Rs 14,672 crore and Rs 14,574 crore in Offer for Sale (OFS). Among 13 startup IPOs, 10 are mainboard and 3 SME IPOs.

The widespread availability of inexpensive internet, along with an active and dynamic workforce, has fueled the growth of startups across a wide range of sectors in the country, from fintech to edtech and health-tech to e-commerce.
India's startups have adopted emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT for solving local and global issues, as per the report of 'Indian Startup Ecosystem Report' by Startup India.

The flagship Startup India programme launched in 2016 has been the cornerstone in this effort. In addition, infrastructure and financial support for innovators through initiatives like the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) will be made available.

In addition, under the MeitY's Startup Accelerator of SAMRIDH for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth scheme, 300 software product startups will be supported over four years with an outlay of Rs 99 crore. There will be funding up to Rs 40 lakh to each startup through accelerators that will help scale their businesses.