Startup Saplings Bloom in Small-Town Soil—Government and Info Edge Nurture the Future

In a major enhancement to India's grassroots innovation system, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has collaborated with Info Edge India Ltd to nurture and scale Tier II and Tier III city startups. The collaboration will help provide an equal platform in terms of startups in urban and rural geographies by providing mentorship, access to funds, and access to markets to entrepreneurs beyond the metro cities.

1. What the Partnership Entails

Info Edge, which owns websites such as Naukri.com, 99acres, and Jeevansathi, will collaborate with DPIIT to identify promising startups in small towns.
The program will emphasize capacity building, product-market fit, and investor preparedness, particularly for early-stage startups.
DPIIT will enable access to government schemes such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS).

2. Why It Matters

As of Dec 2024, over 51% of DPIIT-recognized startups have originated from non-metro cities, reflecting a shift in India's geography of innovation.
The partnership is set to unlock the entrepreneurial potential in hitherto untapped cities like Indore, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Guwahati, and Surat, which are rapidly emerging as startup hubs.
It also aligns with the government's overall vision of inclusive economic growth and job creation at the grassroot level.

3. What's Next

These will be followed up with a sequence of startup bootcamps, demo days, and investor connects in collaboration with local incubators and academic institutions.
Strategic guidance and seed-stage funding will also be extended by Info Edge through its investment arm to upcoming startups.
Impact metrics like the survival rate of startups, funds raised, and employment generated in these regions will be monitored by DPIIT.

Sources: Press Information Bureau, Startup India, Startup India