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 across India. The partnership aims to empower one million entrepreneurs, particularly in Tier II, Tier III, and rural areas, through the Bharat Project. The collaboration will leverage digital platforms, regional content, and AI tools to support budding entrepreneurs.
It will provide AI-powered tools, venture launchpads, and regional language storytelling initiatives to nurture emerging talent in less-served regions of the country. Flagship startup events and developer-focused platforms will be leveraged to engage India’s startup and technology ecosystem further. These platforms will offer opportunities for innovation showcases, founder-investor networking, and development support in emerging sectors, including AI, GenAI, data, and blockchain.
Joint Secretary of DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv Singh, emphasized the importance of inclusive platforms in scaling the next generation of entrepreneurs. 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.
Empowering tier II and III entrepreneurs
The MoU was officially signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT Shri Rajesh Kumar, and Founder & CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, Ms. Shradha Sharma, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. This initiative is a strategic step by DPIIT to democratize 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 are to empower one million entrepreneurs from underserved regions, strengthen the ecosystem via digital platforms, and promote regional storytelling to highlight local success stories. 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 in less urbanized areas. It aligns with India’s broader economic vision, including self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), and contributes to economic decentralization by fostering entrepreneurship beyond urban centers.