India marked National Startup Day on Thursday, coinciding with ten years of the Startup India initiative, as startups in Assam reflected on the programme’s role in supporting inclusive entrepreneurial growth across the country.
Launched in 2016, the Startup India initiative aimed to strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem at a time when the country had around 400 startups, limited access to capital, and widespread perceptions of entrepreneurship as a high-risk pursuit. The programme focused on regulatory simplification, improved access to funding, mentorship support, and providing national and international recognition to startups.
Over the past decade, India’s startup ecosystem has expanded significantly. The country now has more than two lakh startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), recording a compounded annual growth rate of 95 per cent since 2016. On average, around 80 startups are recognised each day. These ventures have generated over 21 lakh jobs, with an average of 11 jobs per startup.
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The growth has been geographically and socially broad-based. More than half, 52.6 per cent, of recognised startups are based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Nearly half have at least one woman director, and startups are active across 56 or more sectors, including IT services, healthcare and lifesciences, education, agriculture, and construction. India is currently among the world’s largest startup ecosystems and is the third-largest unicorn nation.
Assam’s startup ecosystem has also grown during this period, supported by policies and schemes under Startup India. One such venture is RC Hobbytech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a Guwahati-based company operating in the drone technology sector. The firm is recognised under Startup India and has availed benefits such as income tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC. According to the company, these exemptions reduced early-stage financial pressure and enabled reinvestment in research and development, manufacturing expansion, and talent development. The programme’s digital recognition framework and policy support have been particularly relevant for startups operating in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Another Assam-based startup, Dessoi Naturals LLP from Jorhat, operates as a premium tea and wellness brand focused on natural and sustainably sourced blends. The company received debt support under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme through the Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India incubation centre. Following this support, Dessoi Naturals expanded its market presence across India and developed collaborations with brands including Audi, Mercedes, and Porsche. The startup was also featured in WOW Hyderabad Magazine as one of the top homegrown Indian tea brands.
As the Startup India initiative completes a decade, these examples from Assam highlight how policy support, access to funding, and institutional frameworks have contributed to startup growth across regions. The programme continues to focus on promoting innovation, employment generation, and inclusive entrepreneurship nationwide.
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