As Startup India completes a decade, the government is preparing a strategic pivot to further strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), deep tech, and frontier innovation, officials said on Wednesday. The new roadmap is expected to be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday during the 10th anniversary celebrations, coinciding with National Startup Day, observed on January 16 each year.

National Startup Day commemorates January 16, 2016, when the Modi government launched the Startup India initiative with the vision of transforming India from a country of job seekers into a nation of job creators. The programme was designed to build a robust ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven growth, providing startups with funding, mentorship, regulatory support, and a platform to scale.

Over the past decade, India’s startup ecosystem has grown exponentially. At the time of the initiative’s launch, India had approximately 400 recognized startups. Today, that number has increased to over 200,000 government-recognized startups, collectively employing 2.1 million people. The country is now home to 120 unicorns valued at over $350 billion, making India the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world.

The programme’s success has been fueled by several key measures, including the ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) managed by SIDBI, which catalyzed ₹90,000 crore in total investments and funded over 1,200 startups in under nine years. Startups have also benefitted from simplified compliance, self-certification, and three-year tax exemptions, as well as schemes such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups.

Speaking on the initiative’s progress, DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said, “When the Startup India initiative was launched in 2016, India had about 400 startups. Today, we have over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups, and the ecosystem continues to expand rapidly.” He noted that nearly 80 startups are recognized every day, and the average Indian startup provides 11 jobs each, demonstrating the programme’s role in creating employment and opportunities across sectors.

The government has also prioritized the geographic diversification of startups. In 2025, it was reported that over 52.6% of recognized startups were based in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, showing that entrepreneurship is no longer confined to major metropolitan hubs. This trend aligns with PM Modi’s vision, articulated during his Independence Day speech in 2015, to promote grassroots entrepreneurship and strengthen India’s innovation-led economy.

Looking ahead, the next phase of Startup India will focus on fostering corporate engagement with startups, particularly in deep tech, AI, and high-tech solutions. By enabling corporates to collaborate with technopreneurs, companies can outsource problem-solving, develop innovative products, and create cost-effective supply chains, officials said. Several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have already been signed between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and leading companies to support this collaborative ecosystem.

“The government’s role has always been that of an enabler,” said DPIIT Joint Secretary Sanjiv. “By simplifying rules, facilitating funding, and providing mentorship, we have created an environment where startups can focus on innovation while minimizing regulatory hurdles.”

The pivot towards deep tech and AI is particularly timely, as India faces an AI-driven industrial revolution. Sectors such as defence technology, space tech, biotech, semiconductors, and climate tech are emerging as critical domains, creating new business models that were either nascent or non-existent at the time of Startup India’s inception. Strengthening these sectors is also seen as vital for achieving Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), particularly in the context of global supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical uncertainties.

The 10th anniversary of Startup India will also coincide with the fifth edition of the States Startup Ranking Framework and the National Startup Awards 5.0, providing a platform to recognize innovation, celebrate success stories, and inspire further entrepreneurship across the country.

Bhatia emphasized that the government’s vision for the next decade includes deepening the engagement between corporates and startups, promoting high-value technological innovation, and creating a sustainable, future-ready ecosystem. “Corporates can now outsource problems to startups, while technopreneurs provide cost-effective, customized solutions, building a high-tech ecosystem that benefits both sides,” he said.

As Startup India enters its second decade, the government aims to ensure that the ecosystem remains inclusive, innovative, and globally competitive. By focusing on future technologies, encouraging tier-2 and tier-3 entrepreneurship, and fostering corporate-startup partnerships, India seeks to consolidate its position as a global innovation hub.

National Startup Day 2026 will therefore mark not only a decade of achievements but also the launch of a new iterationof the initiative, signaling India’s commitment to innovation-led growth, job creation, and technological self-reliance. Officials emphasized that the government will continue to support startups through funding, mentorship, and regulatory facilitation, ensuring that India remains at the forefront of the global innovation landscape in the years to come.

As PM Modi is expected to address stakeholders during the anniversary event, the focus will remain on future technologies, deep tech innovation, and building a globally competitive ecosystem that empowers India’s youth and entrepreneurs to create solutions that shape the country’s economic and technological trajectory over the next decade.