With over 19,000 DPIIT-recognised ventures, Gujarat powering India's start-up ecosystem
Gandhinagar, June 12
As the Narendra Modi government completes 12 years at the helm in the Centre, Gujarat's success story is also hogging the headlines because of its fast-emerging start-up ecosystem. The Western state, ruled by the BJP for over decades now, has led the nation in shaping the growth trajectory of the Start-up India mission, an initiative that remains a key hallmark of the Modi government.
Gujarat has made remarkable progress in the field of start-ups and innovation during this period. The state has emerged as one of the country's leading startup hubs, strengthening its position as a hub of industrial development.
Months ago, Gujarat bagged top honours at the national start-up rankings event and was named the best performing state in Startup India Rankings for the fifth consecutive year.
Today, Gujarat is home to more than 19,000 startups, recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The achievement reflects the state's strong and inclusive startup ecosystem, built through supportive policies, innovation-driven initiatives and sustained efforts to nurture entrepreneurship.
To encourage youth entrepreneurship and nurture innovation, the state government also launched the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) in 2017-18 for a period of five years. Following its success, the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) 2.0 was introduced in 2022 under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The policy promotes startups across traditional sectors as well as emerging and new-age technologies.
A total of 3,287 startups have been provided guidance and incubation support under the policy. SSIP grantee institutions have also utilised Rs 36.43 crore for financial assistance to startups and innovations. Since the launch of SSIP, more than 22.72 lakh students have been encouraged to explore entrepreneurship through startup awareness initiatives.
Additionally, more than 1,948 startup proposals from school students have been registered on the SSIP 2.0 portal, of which around 1,141 proposals have been approved. SSIP is fostering a strong culture of innovation in Gujarat by providing students, from school to higher education, with guidance, mentorship, financial assistance and market-connectivity support.
The Gujarat Startup and Innovation Hub (i-Hub), formed under the Student Start-up and Innovation Policy (SSIP), has become the hub of the state's innovation ecosystem. As Gujarat's largest innovation and entrepreneurship facility, it provides startups with legal, financial, technical and strategic guidance through a single-window support system. i-Hub supports startups at the pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration stages, helping meet their ideation, product development and investment requirements.
i-Hub was established in 2019, and since then, around 750 startups have received mentorship, incubation support and financial assistance through i-Hub. Under the Startup Creation Seed Support Scheme, more than 400 startups have received support worth Rs 28 crore. These startups have generated over 4,000 jobs, while their combined market valuation has reached approximately Rs 3,569 crore.
i-Hub has also facilitated over Rs 446 crore in private funding through various venture funds. Through its hub-and-spoke model across more than 20 districts, it has further promoted entrepreneurship and innovation awareness among over 4.5 lakh youths.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Happy to see such progress, but let's be honest—many startups in India struggle with real-world scaling and survival. The numbers look great on paper, but we need more focus on sustainable business models beyond government support. Hope these 19,000+ ventures aren't just surviving on grants.
This is what happens when a state government truly prioritises innovation! The i-Hub model with district-level spokes is brilliant—taking entrepreneurship beyond Ahmedabad and Surat to smaller towns. Chalo, kuch toh sahi ho raha hai! 💪
Great news! But I wish other states would also replicate this model. We need similar policies in Bihar, UP, and the northeast. Otherwise, the startup boom will remain concentrated in just a few states. Still, kudos to Gujarat for setting the benchmark! 👏
The ₹28 crore seed support for 400+ startups and ₹446 crore in private funding is the real story here. That shows the ecosystem is attracting genuine investor interest, not just government money. If this continues, Gujarat could become India's answer to Silicon Valley! 🌟
Waah! Especially happy to see nearly 1,950 startup proposals from school students! That's the kind of early exposure we need. Jab bachhe school mein hi sochna shuru kar dein ki 'main entrepreneur ban sakta hoon', toh desh badal sakta hai. 🇮🇳
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