IIT Madras has launched an initiative aimed at widening access to critical information about India’s startup ecosystem. The ‘Startups for All’ platform, developed by the institute’s Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST) in partnership with YNOS, an IIT Madras-incubated company, was introduced during the Tamil Nadu Global Startup Summit.
The platform seeks to make verified data on startups, investors, incubators, banks, and government schemes freely or affordably available to users. It is positioned as a response to the information gap often faced by entrepreneurs, particularly those outside major metropolitan areas or established networks.
According to CREST, more than 2.75 lakh startups and over 15,000 angel investors are currently listed on the platform. It also features details of venture capital firms, support agencies, and government schemes. Early-stage entrepreneurs can make use of free credits upon registration and later pay nominal fees under a micro-payment model to access further data.
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The initiative is intended to benefit not only founders and investors but also students, researchers, job seekers, and others interested in the startup ecosystem. Officials said it has been designed to address what they describe as the “fragmented and scattered” nature of existing information, which can make decision-making difficult for new entrants.
Speaking about the platform, Prof Thillai Rajan A, Head of CREST, said the goal is to reduce information barriers in the sector. “Access to key data should not be a privilege,” he said, adding that the platform aims to support entrepreneurs regardless of background or location.
The launch comes at a time when India, home to the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, is looking to strengthen innovation-led growth. The initiative is expected to complement ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurship as part of the country’s broader development goals.
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