New Delhi

Industry leaders and experts have highlighted the rapid growth of India’s startup ecosystem, noting that the country now hosts over 100 unicorns and 73,000 registered startups. They credited the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing stable governance, reducing regulatory hurdles, and creating a favorable environment for global investors. Experts emphasized that startups have moved beyond niche ventures to become a key driver of job creation and economic growth across multiple sectors.

Sanjeev Barnwal, Co-Founder of Meesho, said the startup base has expanded significantly, with over 50% emerging from tier II and tier III cities. He noted that the government has removed more than 25,000 compliances to ease business operations and highlighted initiatives such as the 10,000 crore fund for startup funding. Barnwal added that the removal of the Angel Tax three years ago has greatly assisted young entrepreneurs in raising capital.

Nikhil Kamath, Co-Founder of Zerodha, praised India’s stable and consistent policy environment, saying it has made the country an attractive destination for global investors. He added that the cost of starting and running a business is expected to decline, making entrepreneurship more accessible. Kamath also noted that entrepreneurship has become “cool in society,” a trend likely to continue.

Ritesh Aggarwal, CEO of OYO Rooms, highlighted the government’s solution-oriented approach, which mirrors entrepreneurial thinking. He credited this environment with the creation of over 100 unicorns and said it has changed societal perceptions of entrepreneurship, even winning over skeptical family members.

Yashish Dahiya, CEO & Co-Founder of PolicyBazaar Fintech, noted that the startup movement now spans 46 industries across 653 districts, with the Digital India mission and UPI framework enabling solutions previously thought impossible. He said India now has the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, valued at around USD 338 billion, and highlighted that his firm has generated approximately 15,000 jobs.

READ MORE: Osama played Oud and stole the show at New Delhi World Book Fair

Prashant Tandon, CEO of 1mg, credited the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, mobile) and public infrastructure like UPI with accelerating the entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in digital health. He said India is poised not just to participate in the global digital health sector but to lead its development. Tandon concluded that initiatives like Startup India have catalyzed nationwide recognition of startups as engines of growth and innovation.