India will celebrate National Startup Day on January 16, which marks the tenth anniversary of the Startup India initiative. The initiative has helped make startups a key driver of innovation, jobs and economic growth. As India works towards a vision of Vixit Bharat by 2047, startups play a key role in technological development and inclusive progress.

Launched on January 16, 2016, Startup India is an initiative that supports entrepreneurs at all stages, from idea generation to scaling businesses. Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the largest startup hubs in the world, growing from just four unicorns in 2014 to over 120 unicorns today, with a valuation of over $350 billion.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Domestic Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and has helped build a broad and inclusive ecosystem. As of December 2025, there are over two lakh registered startups in India, half of which are from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, while about 45% of startups have at least one woman founder or leader, reflecting the growing breadth and diversity of entrepreneurship in the country.