New Delhi: The Startup Sahayak initiative has been launched following a strategic partnership between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and fintech platform Razorpay to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem.
The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to support startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs across the country.
Through this partnership, Startup Sahayak is positioned as a key enabler for early-stage founders, providing access to financial tools, founder enablement programmes, and broader ecosystem support to accelerate growth.
The initiative is expected to assist both early- and growth-stage startups in scaling efficiently by leveraging digital payment solutions, financial infrastructure, and structured startup support initiatives.
As part of the collaboration, Startup Sahayak has been introduced as a dedicated platform offering end-to-end assistance. The platform will facilitate company incorporation, provide access to central and state government schemes and programmes, and offer guidance on funding opportunities.
With Startup Sahayak, startups can access critical ecosystem support through a streamlined and structured interface designed to simplify the entrepreneurial journey.
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Startup Sahayak: Startups To Be Onboarded Into Curated Founder Communities
Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv, stated that the collaboration reflects the Department’s commitment to strengthening India’s startup ecosystem through partnerships with leading fintech players.
He emphasised that enabling seamless access to financial infrastructure and tools will play a vital role in accelerating startup growth. He noted that initiatives like Startup Sahayak are expected to bridge key gaps for founders navigating early-stage challenges.
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Razorpay, Harshil Mathur, highlighted that the partnership is driven by a shared vision to enable innovation and make entrepreneurship more accessible and scalable.
He pointed out that with the growing emergence of startups across India, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, there is an increasing need for robust infrastructure, mentorship, and ecosystem support—areas where Startup Sahayak is expected to play a significant role.
Under this collaboration, DPIIT and Razorpay will conduct regular knowledge sessions via the Startup India Hub, covering topics such as applied artificial intelligence, marketing, product development, and financial management.
These sessions aim to ensure wider outreach and deeper engagement with the startup community, further strengthening the impact of Startup Sahayak.
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DPIIT-recognised startups will also benefit from incorporation support with zero professional fees (excluding applicable government charges), along with access to credits and incentives across a range of financial and business tools.
Through Startup Sahayak, founders will gain access to mentorship support, pitch deck reviews, application guidance, and curated resources designed to support early-stage growth.
Additionally, selected startups will be onboarded into curated founder communities to facilitate peer learning, networking, and access to domain-specific ecosystem support, including engineering, hiring, and marketing.
The initiative also opens avenues for participation in innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge framework, focusing on fintech-driven problem statements and digital innovation, further expanding the scope of Startup Sahayak.
The MoU was signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, T L K Singh, and Chief Information Officer, Razorpay, Shri Arif Khan, in the presence of officials from both organisations, marking a significant step forward in advancing India’s startup ecosystem through the Startup Sahayak platform.
