Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 10th‑anniversary event in New Delhi, interacted with founders, and urged a sharper focus on AI, manufacturing, and research to help India lead in the next wave of startup trends.
- DPIIT and ministers reported more than 2 lakh DPIIT‑recognised startups and over 21 lakh jobs as of December 31, 2025, with recognition now averaging over 50 startups per day and the fastest recent growth recorded in 2024–25.
- DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said the next phase will nudge large companies to work closely with startups, including outsourcing problem statements and integrating solutions into supply chains, with MoUs already signed.
- Government financing and platforms remain central, with the ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds catalysing over ₹25,500 crore into 1,370+ startups, the Seed Fund backing 215+ incubators, and 34,800 startups onboarded on GeM receiving 4.9 lakh orders worth ₹49,000 crore.
- Inclusion has broadened the ecosystem, with over half of recognised startups from tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, more than 45% having at least one woman leader, and around 120 unicorns valued above $350 billion placing India third globally.