BUILDING INDIA'S FUTURE FROM THE GROUND UP

From Bharat's heartland to global markets, new-age ventures are reshaping jobs, industries, and national growth

- By Vikram Gupta

AS INDIA ADVANCES TOWARD its vision of Viksit Bharat, a developed, self-reliant nation, the country's startup ecosystem is evolving from a growth narrative into a national development engine. In 2024 alone, Indian startups raised over $12 billion, marking a 20 per cent increase from 2023, according to data from Tracxn. But beyond investment numbers, what's unfolding is a deeper transformation. Startups are no longer just scaling; they are solving.

India's Startup Landscape

India, with over 1.5 lakh (150,000) registered startups, stands as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, following the US and China. However, this ranking doesn't capture the real story: the geographic democratisation of innovation. Indore's ShopKirana digitises supply chains for small retailers. Bhubaneswar's Milk Mantra blends tech with traditional dairy farming to boost farmer incomes. Jaipur's CarDekho has emerged as a pan-India leader in auto-tech. Surat-based startups are developing innovations in textile tech, a nod to its historic industrial base. According to DPIIT data, over 51 per cent of recognised startups now originate from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

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