National Startup Day, observed annually on January 16th, marks a decade of the Startup India Initiative and recognizes the crucial role startups play in shaping India's future. This year's celebration highlights the theme of "A Decade of Startup India," commemorating entrepreneurial growth and outlining a roadmap for the future.
Launched on January 16, 2016, the Startup India initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) aimed to cultivate a robust and inclusive startup ecosystem across the nation. Over the past ten years, the initiative has evolved into a cornerstone of India's economic and innovation landscape, bolstering institutional support, expanding access to capital and mentorship, and creating a favorable environment for startups to thrive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to engage with entrepreneurs and stakeholders at a special event in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Startup India. The event serves as a platform to acknowledge the collective efforts of entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, mentors, and policymakers in building a thriving startup ecosystem.
India's startup ecosystem has experienced remarkable growth, becoming the third-largest startup hub globally with over 200,000 DPIIT-registered startups across various sectors. These startups have become vital contributors to job creation, technological advancements, and the expansion of domestic value chains. More than half of India's recognized startups originate from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, promoting balanced regional development, and nearly half include at least one woman director, highlighting increasing gender inclusivity.
This year, the focus is on India's potential in Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the convergence of government, startups, and global tech giants to build India's AI stack. This includes large-scale compute access, data platforms, grants, and global market access programs. A Google and Inc42 report estimates a $126 billion AI opportunity in the next half-decade. As of late 2025, over 150 Indian startups have launched AI-first products, raising over $1.5 billion in 2025 alone.
Entrepreneurs are transforming bold ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact across technology, healthcare, education, sustainability, and consumer sectors. For example, Bhupesh Aarora, Founder of Nursing Next Live (NNL ONE), is transforming healthcare education in India, and MMB empowers Indian enterprises to adopt robust governance practices.
National Startup Day 2026 serves as a call to action to build a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready startup ecosystem. India aims for deeper impact, wider participation, and sustained global leadership in the startup space, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The day not only celebrates past achievements but also highlights opportunities as India positions itself as a global innovation hub and an attractive destination for investment in emerging technologies.
