Big Boost for Startups! DPIIT & Info Edge Partners to Power Small-Town Innovation

Can a job portal from the 90s power the next wave of Indian innovation? That’s the question being answered boldly by Info Edge (India) Ltd. as it steps into a strategic alliance with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The goal? To support and scale startups not just in India’s buzzing metros but deep into Tier II and Tier III cities—where untapped potential meets lack of access.

In a move that’s set to ripple across the startup ecosystem, Info Edge has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DPIIT. This public-private collaboration aims to bridge long-standing gaps—mentorship, funding access, and business infrastructure—for early-stage founders who often don’t have the same resources as their urban counterparts.

Signed in the presence of DPIIT Joint Secretary Sanjiv Singh and Info Edge’s visionary founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani, this partnership is more than just paperwork—it’s a signal that India is serious about democratising entrepreneurship.

Filling the Missing Pieces of India’s Startup Puzzle

While the Startup India mission has laid a strong foundation, one challenge continues to persist: how do we ensure that the wave of innovation isn’t limited to Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi?

That’s where Info Edge steps in as a game-changer.

Best known for its flagship platform naukri.com, Info Edge has over the years become a quiet giant of the Indian internet economy. From jobs (naukri.com, naukrigulf.com) to matrimony (jeevansathi.com), real estate (99acres.com), and education (shiksha.com), the company has built digital infrastructure that connects millions of Indians every day.

Now, with the DPIIT partnership, this infrastructure will be reimagined to serve India’s next-gen entrepreneurs.

In a statement, DPIIT highlighted that this MoU will "strengthen the support structure for startups by giving them access to the expertise and infrastructure Info Edge has developed over the years.” This aligns with the government’s broader Startup India mission, which has already recognized over 100,000 startups as part of its formal ecosystem.

nfo Edge: The Original Startup Ally

Even before "startup" became a buzzword, Info Edge was already backing dreamers.

What many don’t know is that beyond being a digital platform powerhouse, Info Edge is also one of India’s most respected early-stage investors. It has seeded some of India’s most iconic unicorns—Zomato, Policybazaar, Meritnation, Mydala, and Canvera, to name a few.

These investments weren’t just about money. They were about believing in a founder’s vision, sharing hard-won wisdom, and helping navigate the choppy waters of entrepreneurship.

With this partnership, that same investment DNA is now being extended to thousands of aspiring founders who lack access to such mentorship and support—especially outside the big cities.

From the Cities to the Small Towns

Info Edge’s presence in 43 cities and 62 offices gives it a rare advantage: on-ground knowledge. This local reach, paired with DPIIT’s policy framework, will help startups grow in places that are often left behind in the innovation conversation.

Imagine a young founder in Ranchi or Rajkot gaining access to top-tier mentorship and funding guidance. That’s the future this partnership is betting on.

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, a name synonymous with internet entrepreneurship in India, understands this shift better than most. As someone who built one of India’s first successful internet companies from scratch in the pre-Jio era, his experience and his company’s digital muscle could be pivotal for grassroots startup growth.

A Global Vision Rooted in Indian Realities

Info Edge’s story is also one of international expansion—with naukrigulf.com operating across the Gulf region. But while it expands outward, this partnership signals a recommitment to strengthening the roots at home.

It’s a model of growth that balances scale with inclusion. A blueprint for how India can build global giants while nurturing innovation across its smallest towns.

This isn’t just a corporate deal. It’s a signal of trust, collaboration, and a shared belief in India’s entrepreneurial spirit.

If successful, this initiative could become a template for other public-private models. Because when startups thrive, jobs are created, problems are solved, and economies grow—bottom-up.

And in that journey, partnerships like these are the scaffolding upon which India’s startup dream will rise.

The DPIIT-Info Edge alliance is not just about enabling businesses. It’s about widening the circle of opportunity. It’s about ensuring that the next Zomato or Policybazaar doesn’t have to come from a metro—it could very well come from Muzaffarpur or Moradabad.

And that, perhaps, is the true power of this collaboration.