IIT Madras Unveils ‘Startups for All’: Opening the Doors of India’s Startup Knowledge to Everyone

In a country that births a new startup every few hours, one of the biggest challenges still facing India’s innovation ecosystem isn’t just funding or mentorship — it’s access to the right information. From a student in a Tier-2 city dreaming up a new business idea to a first-time founder searching for the right investor, the maze of scattered startup data often leaves many stranded mid-journey.

Now, IIT Madras wants to change that.

The premier institute has launched a transformative new initiative called ‘Startups for All’, designed to make critical startup information accessible, affordable, and democratic. Rolled out through the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST), and developed in collaboration with YNOS, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, this platform could become a one-stop knowledge hub for anyone curious about India’s booming entrepreneurial landscape.

The initiative was officially launched by Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, during the recent ‘TN Global Startup Summit’ held in Chennai.

Bridging India’s Startup Information Gap

India’s startup ecosystem, now the third-largest in the world, has long been seen as one of the key forces driving the nation’s economic ambitions — from the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision to the $5 trillion economy goal. Yet, despite the explosion of entrepreneurial activity, one major problem persists: the information conundrum.

Data is everywhere, but it’s fragmented, inconsistent, and hard to navigate. Founders, investors, researchers, and policymakers often struggle to find credible and consolidated insights to make informed decisions.

That’s precisely the gap IIT Madras aims to fill.

“The idea behind Startups for All is simple yet powerful — to level the playing field,” said an IIT Madras spokesperson. “Information is the foundation of innovation. We want to make it available to everyone — not just a privileged few.”

India’s Largest Independent Startup Database

The ‘Startups for All’ platform is built to be India’s most comprehensive and independent digital repository of startup data. It already hosts an impressive collection:

• 2.75 lakh+ startups

• 15,000 angel investors

• 5,500 venture capital firms

• 1,400 incubators

• 800 banks

• 110 government support schemes

This makes it a powerful tool not just for founders but also for anyone mapping India’s innovation journey — from policymakers to academia, and from industry leaders to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Whether one is seeking details about emerging startups, connecting with potential investors, or discovering funding programs and incubators, Startups for All offers a centralized window into the ecosystem’s pulse.

Access Made Simple — and Affordable

True to its inclusive vision, the platform comes with free initial access, allowing registered users to explore startup and investor profiles using complimentary credits. Once they’re familiar, users can seamlessly continue with a pay-as-you-go micro-payment model, ensuring affordability and flexibility.

This approach, IIT Madras says, aligns with its goal of democratizing access — making sure that no bright idea is left behind simply because of lack of information.

A Catalyst for the Next Generation of Innovators

By building such an open-access knowledge base, IIT Madras is hoping to empower students, researchers, and first-time founders — the very people who often stand at the fringes of India’s startup boom.

The institute’s collaboration with YNOS, which specializes in leveraging deep analytics for startup insights, ensures that the platform is not just vast, but also intelligent and relevant.

As India marches toward a future defined by innovation and entrepreneurship, initiatives like ‘Startups for All’ could play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s knowledge infrastructure — transforming how young innovators discover opportunities, assess markets, and connect with the right partners.

Leveling the Playing Field in India’s Innovation Race

India’s startup scene is not short on ambition. But ambition alone can’t fuel growth — information can.

By unlocking access to verified, structured, and searchable startup data, IIT Madras’ Startups for All is more than a digital initiative; it’s a movement to make startup knowledge a public good.

If the startup economy is India’s growth engine, this platform might just become its fuel line — ensuring that anyone with a dream, from a campus dorm to a small-town co-working space, can plug in, learn, and launch.