Over Rs 21,000 crore invested in startups so far under Startup India’s schemes: Commerce Ministry – SME News

The central government’s various schemes for startups under the Startup India initiative have invested over 21,000 crore in startups as of October 31, 2024. The flagship schemes under the Startup India programme viz., Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) have provided financial assistance to eligible recognised startups across sectors. 

According to the data shared by Jitin Prasada, Minister of State in the Finance Ministry in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Rs 20,572.14 crore has been invested by FFS-supported AIFs (alternate investment funds) in startups as of October 31, 2024. 

Specifically in the years 2022 and 2023, over Rs 5,800 crore have been invested, of which over Rs 3,800 crore has been invested in startups in technology and allied sectors such as agri-tech, AI, clean tech, e-commerce, health tech, and space tech. 

Over 1,700 agri startups supported with Rs 122 crore: Govt

Stride Ventures to focus more on consumer & fintech, cut exposure to B2B startups

Antler India plans to invest Rs 211 cr in 50 start-ups in 2025: Company

As funding winter bites, startups get finances in order

Launched in January 2016, FFS, operationalized by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), provides capital to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered AIFs which in turn invest in startups.

AIFs supported under FFS are required to invest at least two times the amount committed under FFS in startups. 

Under SISFS, implemented in April 2021 to provide financial assistance to seed stage startups through incubators, has approved Rs 454.04 crore through select incubators to startups as of October 31, 2024. During 2022 and 2023, over Rs 290 crore was approved, of which over Rs 110 crore was approved by incubators to startups in agri tech, biotechnology, blockchain, clean tech, machine learning, and robotics applications segments. 

Likewise, under CGSS, operational since April 2023 to enable collateral-free loans to startups through lenders, loans amounting to Rs 555.24 crore have been guaranteed to startups as of October 31, 2024 while specifically in 2023, over Rs 220 crore loans were guaranteed to startups, of which, over Rs 60 crore loans were guaranteed to startups in aerospace and defence, IT hardware and software, and biotechnology sectors. 

As of October 31, 2024, 1,52,139 entities were recognised as startups across more than 55 industries, of which over 46,000 entities were recognised as startups across various technology and allied industries. These included AI, biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics, technology hardware, and AR/VR, etc. 

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}