He also said that the second fund of funds for startups (FFS) with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore has been approved and this year, Rs 2,000 crore will be disbursed to SIDBI as the first installment. A significant portion of the fund will be reserved for seed funding of small startups and to support deep-tech innovation.
“The potential you hold will make you a great contributor to India’s journey in this Amrit Kaal. Let the Startup Mahakumbh ignite aspirations that go beyond the current realm of reality,” Goyal said while conferring the Startup Maharathi Awards at Startup Mahakumbh 2025.
“We must unlock India’s full potential through facilitation, not regulation,” Goyal said.
Announcing a key initiative, Goyal revealed that a dedicated Startup India Desk will be set up in the commerce and industry ministry to serve as a helpline for startups across India, accessible via a simple 4-digit toll-free number in regional languages.
Fund of funds
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The government aims to build a strong pipeline of indigenous technology solutions that can address national priorities and position India as a global innovation leader.Goyal said that through the FFS, India aims to foster the development of cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, quantum computing, machine learning, precision manufacturing and biotech.
The objective is to provide early-stage financial support to budding entrepreneurs who often face challenges in accessing traditional forms of capital, scale prototypes, undertake research and development, and accelerate go-to-market strategies.
The fund will especially focus on startups operating in cutting-edge domains such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, robotics, precision manufacturing, biotech, and semiconductor design, where long gestation periods and high capital requirements often pose hurdles, according to a government statement.
