Gujarat retains top category as “Best Performer” in DPIIT’s States’ Start-up Rankings 2021, third time in a row

New Delhi: Prime Minister of India launched the “Startup India” initiative on 16^th January, 2016 with an aim to  build a strong startup & entrepreneurial ecosystem, to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities. Today, India has become the 3^rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world with over 72,000 start-ups recognised and over 100 unicorns. In recognition of the contribution of startups to India’s economy, Hon’ble Prime Minister has also announced to celebrate 16 January as National Startup Day.

With an aim to build capacities at the state level to support innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthen the ecosystem across states, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India launched the State Startup Ranking Framework in 2018.

The 2021 ranking conducted by DPIIT along with Startup India was based on 7 broad reform areas consisting of 26 action points ranging from Institutional support, Fostering innovation & entrepreneurship, Access to market, Incubation support, Funding support, Mentorship support, and capacity building of enablers. Startup India team undertook an extensive user feedback exercise and focused towards on-ground implementation of reforms in the state. 28 states and 8 Union Territories participated in the exercise.

The results of the State Startup Ranking 2021 was released by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution at Ashok hotel, New Delhi today. Gujarat has retained its place in the top category of “Best Performer”, 3^rd time in a row in the assessment across all States and UTs. Hon’ble Union Minister presented the award to the Gujarat delegation led by Shri S.J. Haider, IAS (Principal Secretary – Education) and Dr. Rahul Gupta IAS, Industries Commissioner & Nodal officer for Startup Gujarat Cell.

DPIIT also recognized key state officials for their efforts in strengthening the state startup ecosystem. These included: Dr. Rahul Gupta IAS, Industries Commissioner & Nodal officer for Startup Gujarat Cell, Shri M. Nagrajan, IAS, Commissioner-Higher Education and Shri Dharmesh R. Parmar, Joint Commissioner of Industries (Startups).

Along with the rankings, the government also released the National Report of Ranking, as well as specific State and UT reports, for all participants to highlight the overall structure of the exercise, including the framework & methodology, evaluation process, and results

The State-wise rankings released by DPIIT are as follows:

• Key initiatives of the State Government which have been recognized as “Best Practices” by Government of India include:
  • 150+ Government officials sensitized for engaging with startups
  • Trained 100% of all State supported incubators
  • 300+ potential private investors sensitized for investing in startups
  • 2 funds established to provide funding support to startups-Student Innovation Funds and GVFL Startup fund
  • 160+ startups supported with financial assistance

• Gujarat is home to 14,200+ (6.70%) registered startups as per Startup India website. A vast network of 180+ Incubators/ Educational Institutes of Gujarat are currently supporting Startups in Gujarat. Owing to these initiatives, the state has also Gujarat received ‘Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2017’, in recognition of successful implementation of Start-Up India program.

• Gujarat’s success is rooted in the entrepreneurial spirit of its people, as well as the pro-active governance under the able leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, now carried forward by CM Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel.

• Gujarat was the first state that launched the State Startup policy in 2015. The latest State Startup Policy provides for 360 degree support to startups including seed support up to INR 30 lakhs, additional INR 10 lakhs to startups with significant impact on society, sustenance allowance support up to INR 3 lakhs, Acceleration program support up to INR 3 lakhs and Soft skill development support up to Rs. 1 lakh.

• Besides this, Education Department has recently introduced Student Startup and Innovation Policy 2.0, which aims to spur entrepreneurial talent at primary education level

• Gujarat Venture Finance Limited (GVFL), set up by the Government of Gujarat, is the pioneer of venture capital in India. GVFL has raised 9 venture capital funds which have supported over ~100 companies. In order to support Startups / Entrepreneurs in surviving “valley of death” phase in their journey, Government of Gujarat has set up INR 1,000 crore “Gujarat Young Entrepreneurs Venture Fund” under GVFL to provide small ticket size funding to startups.

• iCreate, set up under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM is the largest such incubator in India and has recently been recognized as winner of the National Award for Technology Business Incubator 2020, iCreate alone has supported over 490 Startup across various sectors.