India Surpasses 73,000 Startups with Women Directors

India Surpasses 73,000 Startups with Women Directors
News:
India now has over 73,000 startups with at least one woman director, constituting nearly half of the 1,57,066 startups supported by the government under the Startup India initiative.

Key Highlights:

• India ranks as the third-largest startup hub globally.
• The startup ecosystem includes over 100 unicorns, reflecting innovation across sectors like fintech, edtech, health-tech, and e-commerce.
• Major innovation hubs include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR.

Factors Driving Growth:

• Availability of affordable internet and a young workforce.
• Startups leverage technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT to solve local and global challenges.

Government Initiatives:

1.     Startup India Programme (2016):

o    Provides tax benefits, funding, and policy support.

o    1,57,066 startups recognized as of December 2024.

2.     BHASKAR Platform:

o    Knowledge access for startups.

3.     Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) & NIDHI:

o    Offers infrastructure and financial aid to innovators.

4.     SAMRIDH Scheme (2021):

o    Aims to fund 300 software startups with up to ₹40 lakh each.

Global Expansion:
Indian startups like BYJU’S, Zomato, Ola, and Nykaa have expanded globally, showcasing India's potential to lead innovation on the world stage.