Startup Nation Rising: India’s 110 Unicorns Rewrite the Global Playbook

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India’s startup ecosystem has hit a major milestone, now ranked third globally with over 1.25 lakh startups and 110 unicorns. The growth reflects a decade-long push toward innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion—reaching far beyond metro cities.

Key Highlights from the Ecosystem

India’s unicorn count rose to 110 as of mid-2025, with recent additions like Jumbotail, Drools, and JSW One
MSME joining the club
Bengaluru leads with 52 unicorns, followed by Gurugram and Mumbai with 19 each
Sectors driving unicorn growth include fintech (23), e-commerce (18), SaaS (15), logistics (9), and edtech (7)

Economic and Social Impact

Startups have created over 12 lakh jobs and registered more than 12,000 patents
Women now lead over 45% of Indian startups, signaling a shift in entrepreneurial demographics
The Startup India initiative and Rs 1 lakh crore innovation fund have helped democratize access to capital
and mentorship

Trends Shaping the Future

A growing number of unicorns are returning to India from overseas to prepare for IPOs
AI-focused startups like Krutrim and logistics innovators like Netradyne reflect a pivot toward deep tech and clean mobility
Quick commerce, electric vehicles, and blockchain are emerging as high-growth segments

Looking Ahead

India’s startup culture is evolving into a nationwide movement, with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities contributing to the momentum
The government’s goal to make India the third-largest economy is closely tied to the continued success of its startup ecosystem

Sources: Forbes India, Business Standard, StartupGuruLab, Tracxn, Business Today.