The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YourStory Media Private Limited to promote inclusive entrepreneurship and enhance India’s startup ecosystem. The partnership aims to empower one million entrepreneurs through AI-powered tools, venture launchpads, and regional language storytelling initiatives under the Bharat Project. The collaboration will utilize digital platforms, regional content, and AI tools to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem further.
It will also use flagship startup events and developer-focused platforms to engage more deeply with India’s startup and technology ecosystem. These platforms will facilitate innovation showcases, founder-investor networking, and support emerging sectors, including AI, GenAI, data, and blockchain. Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv Singh, emphasized the significance of inclusive platforms in scaling the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Partnership to bolster startup ecosystem
He highlighted that the partnership would expand access to networks, knowledge, and success stories, particularly for aspiring founders from underserved regions, thereby accelerating India’s journey toward becoming a global innovation hub. The MoU was formally signed by Shri Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, and Ms. Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. This initiative is a strategic step by DPIIT to democratize entrepreneurship, ensuring access to resources, networks, and knowledge for aspiring founders beyond metro cities. The program leverages AI-powered platforms, local language storytelling, and startup-focused events to build an inclusive and innovation-driven economy.
The key objectives of the initiative are to empower 1 million entrepreneurs from underserved regions, strengthen India’s inclusive startup ecosystem via digital platforms, and promote regional storytelling to highlight local success stories. DPIIT will offer AI-powered tools for aspiring entrepreneurs, venture launchpads for new startup ideas, regional content, and language access to bridge communication gaps, as well as innovation showcases and networking events. The focus sectors include Artificial Intelligence, GenAI, blockchain, and data-driven enterprises.
This partnership represents a significant step towards building a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment in India, aiming to tap into the vast potential of talent present in less urbanized areas and thus contributing to India’s broader economic growth. It aligns with India’s broader digital transformation goals and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) vision and contributes to economic decentralization by fostering entrepreneurship beyond urban centers.