In a candid conversation with ilouge Media, Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO of MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) sheds light on the organization’s ambitious roadmap toward Vision 2047. Now four years into its journey, MeitY Startup Hub is positioning itself as the national custodian of deep tech innovation, with a sharp focus on structured growth, grassroots empowerment, and global readiness. From milestone programs like SAMRIDH 100 to collaborations with UIDAI and ELCINA, the conversation outlines how MSH is reshaping India’s startup landscape—one high-potential venture at a time.
- To begin with, I would like to understand MSH’s roadmap and key milestones leading up to Vision 2047.
MeitY Startup Hub is now a four-year-old organization, and in this time, we’ve successfully built a strong foundation with impactful programs and a robust network of enabling partners across the country. We’ve also assembled a highly capable team, positioning us well for the next phase of growth and impact creation.
As we look ahead to the next 3–5 years—and in the broader context of Vision 2047—we recognize that while many organizations are contributing to the startup and innovation ecosystem in India, our unique focus will be on the deep tech space.
Currently, Startup India plays the role of custodian for the broader startup ecosystem. Similarly, MSH—MeitY Startup Hub—aims to be the custodian for all tech, electronics, and deep tech startups across the country. With over 75,000 startups already operating in this domain, including those in electronics manufacturing, our mission is to nurture, enable, and accelerate their growth.
This is our aspiration, and we are actively working toward realizing it.
- Please highlight some of the recent initiatives MSH has undertaken, as well as any key upcoming plans or programs.
We’ve been actively driving several initiatives, but more importantly, we’re now focusing on structured and sustainable growth over the next 5–7 years. Internally, we are enhancing our readiness to meet the evolving challenges of the tech and global innovation ecosystems. This involves team building, strengthening our internal capabilities, and hiring the right talent.
Another key pillar of our approach is collaboration. We recently had a strong presence at Startup Mahakumbh, where we partnered with DPIIT, STPI India, and other sister organizations to present a unified MeitY Deep Tech Pavilion.
Our strategy revolves around three main areas: capability building, strategic collaboration, and ecosystem development. On the external front, we are strengthening partnerships through our extensive network of enabling partners. Currently, we work with around 150 incubators and accelerators across the country.
In February, we hosted the first edition of Pravaha 2025—MeitY Startup Hub’s inaugural incubator-accelerator conclave—bringing together over 100 ecosystem enablers under one roof. It gave us a platform to align on long-term objectives and deepen collaborations.
In addition to these efforts, we’ve participated in several flagship events to amplify our startup community. For example, 40 MSH-supported startups took part in the TiE Global Summit in Bengaluru, 20 showcased their innovations at the IMAGINE event in Chennai, and 36 startups were featured at Startup Mahakumbh. So, through a combination of internal preparedness and external engagement, we are positioning MSH for the next phase of impactful growth.
- Please elaborate on the transformative impact of MSH’s flagship programs? How are these initiatives influencing India’s startup ecosystem?
The impact of our initiatives over the past five months has been both focused and encouraging. At MSH, our agenda is clear—startups are our central priority. Their success is our success; they are the reason we exist. To support them meaningfully, we have developed a comprehensive support framework built around five key pillars: mentorship, market access programs, funding support, strategic partnerships, and global exposure opportunities. We are actively working on international exposure programs to help startups explore new markets, connect with global customers, and build an international footprint. These efforts reflect our commitment to being a true enabler in the startup ecosystem. The results are beginning to show—around 200 to 300 startups have been directly impacted by our programs, and we have extended broader support to over 5,000 startups across the country. We are confident that the outcomes of these efforts will become even more evident in the near future.
- How MeitY Startup Hub is empowering entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of innovation across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and others? Additionally, how are these efforts contributing to more sustainable and inclusive growth?
We are empowering entrepreneurs pushing the boundaries of innovation through a structured, stage-wise support system that addresses every phase of a startup’s journey—from idea to scale. One of our key initiatives is the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program, which helps early-stage innovators transform ideas into prototypes, and eventually into minimum viable products (MVPs). We have mapped the complete startup lifecycle and designed tailored programs at each stage. For instance, startups can begin at the idea stage under programs like EIR, TIDE, or GENESIS. As they progress, they can access our pilot funding programs to build proof of concepts for corporates or public sector needs. Startups then move toward investment readiness under our GENESIS (for Tier 2 and 3 cities) or SAMRIDH (for Tier 1 cities) programs, where we offer co-investment opportunities with market investors.
For deep-tech innovations, we provide support of up to ₹1 crore under the GENESIS deep-tech track. Beyond funding, we’re also building sustainability into the ecosystem by enabling procurement from startups. A great example is our recent partnership with a startup as our official technology provider for an AI-based voice bot, tested during Startup Mahakumbh. This is part of our broader effort to lead by example and demonstrate real demand for startup innovations within the government ecosystem. Ultimately, our goal is not just to support innovation, but to ensure these startups grow sustainably and thrive in the long term.
- Please elaborate on the recent milestone achieved under the SAMRIDH 100 initiative and its impact on the broader innovation landscape?
I believe the credit truly goes to the entire MSH team. It’s not about any one individual—certainly not me. This achievement is the result of strong teamwork. Funding 100 startups is a significant milestone, making us one of the largest startup portfolios in the country. We are very proud of this accomplishment.
Our investment approach is rooted in the philosophy of patient capital—we’re not in a rush to exit. Our focus is on nurturing innovation and enabling the creation of high-impact intellectual property. We want our startups to develop strategic products that contribute to making India self-reliant.
Our goal is to support startups in building strong, product-centric companies that not only grow sustainably but also drive the broader growth of the startup ecosystem and the nation at large. While we celebrate this milestone, we know there is still a long journey ahead. In fact, in the coming year, we aim to fund another 100 startups—further strengthening our position as a key enabler in the ecosystem.
But it’s not just about funding. We are now evolving toward a high-involvement model. Through our incubator and accelerator partners, we are working closely with select startups to provide hands-on support. Our approach is increasingly centered around outcome-based performance metrics to ensure that their growth is not just faster, but also more robust and impactful.
- Are there any upcoming partnerships, initiatives, or collaborations in the pipeline?
We are excited about several upcoming partnerships and initiatives. As mentioned during the Startup Mahakumbh, we will be partnering with UIDAI—the Unique Identification Authority of India—to facilitate their startup program across the country. Additionally, we have launched the MSH- ELCINA and T-Works Design and Manufacturing Challenge, which reflects our strong focus on supporting innovation in design and manufacturing. We encourage all startups to apply and participate. Another key initiative is the DPDP Consent Challenge, which centers around the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and presents a unique opportunity for startups working in the data protection space. These initiatives provide young startups the chance to engage directly with us and receive support from MeitY to grow their ventures. All our efforts are aligned with nurturing innovation and strengthening the startup ecosystem in India.
- Startups are widely seen as the foundation of the nation’s growth in the coming years. How do you view their role in shaping the future, and what message would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs and existing startups looking to scale?
I am very positive and optimistic about the startup ecosystem in India. Over the years, we’ve successfully built a broad base, and now it’s time to add depth by nurturing fundamentally strong companies. Startups should focus on building high-quality products that meet not only Indian needs but also align with global standards. In today’s world, products that succeed in India often have the potential to succeed globally.
My message to aspiring entrepreneurs is not just a suggestion but a sincere request—be very clear and focused on the problem you’re trying to solve. Solving for Bharat—that is, addressing India’s grassroots challenges—is crucial. We face many pressing issues, especially in rural areas, including water scarcity, hygiene, sanitation, healthcare, personal safety, and more. Startups should focus on solving these real Indian problems rather than simply replicating solutions that have worked in the West. Doing so will not only create meaningful impact but also unlock significant market opportunities. There is no shortage of demand in India—what we need are innovative, context-driven solutions.
As for reaching entrepreneurs in smaller towns and rural regions, absolutely yes—MeitY Startup Hub is committed to that cause. Through our GENESIS program, we are actively focusing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. We have established 65 centers specifically in these regions, ensuring our schemes and support systems are accessible to innovators and startups outside major urban hubs. Our vision is to build thriving startup ecosystems in cities like Prayagraj, Bhopal, Baramati, and beyond—so entrepreneurs can build successful, impactful companies without needing to migrate to metros. The idea is to build for Bharat, from Bharat.
