New Delhi: India’s startup ecosystem has seen an unprecedented expansion over the past ten years, with the number of startups rising from fewer than 500 in 2014 to over 2 lakh today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, marking a decade of the Startup India programme.
Speaking at an event to commemorate National Startup Day, Modi said India is now the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and home to nearly 125 active unicorns, compared with just four a decade ago. He said the momentum is accelerating, with nearly 44,000 startups registered in 2025 alone—the highest annual addition since the programme’s launch.
The Prime Minister credited policy reforms, decriminalisation of laws and a shift away from “inspector raj” for fostering entrepreneurship, particularly among youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. He said startups are increasingly focused on solving real-world problems across sectors such as agriculture, fintech, health, mobility and sustainability.
Modi highlighted the growing inclusivity of the ecosystem, noting that over 45% of recognised startups now have at least one woman director or partner, and that India has become the world’s second-largest ecosystem for women-led startup funding.
On funding support, he said the government-backed Fund of Funds for Startups has enabled investments exceeding ₹25,000 crore, while additional seed funding and credit guarantee schemes have improved access to capital for early-stage ventures. Public procurement through the Government e-Marketplace has also opened up market access, with startups receiving orders worth around ₹50,000 crore.
Looking ahead, Modi urged startups to take a leadership role in emerging and strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space, drones and green hydrogen. He said initiatives like the India AI Mission, including the onboarding of over 38,000 GPUs, aim to reduce entry barriers for smaller firms and promote indigenous technology development.
“The next decade should be about global leadership,” Modi said, calling on startups to move beyond services into manufacturing and deep technology, while assuring continued government support for innovation and risk-taking.