Here’s How DPIIT’s 60+ MoUs Are Changing the Startup Game in India

“We’re not just signing MoUs — we’re redesigning how the Indian economy supports innovation,” says Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, who has been at the helm of this strategic initiative to transform startup policy into market action.

In the first half of 2025, India’s startup narrative took a subtle but seismic turn. Forget the unicorn celebrations and IPO spectacles. The real transformation lies in India Inc. quietly becoming the architect of the next-gen startup economy.

At the heart of this movement is the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). In just six months, DPIIT has stitched together over 60 MoUs with top corporates and institutions, creating one of the largest public-private startup acceleration platforms the country has ever seen.

This isn’t optics. It’s a strategic pivot — activating India’s industrial powerhouses, financial institutions, and tech majors as early-stage mentors, funders, and global launchpads.

India’s Silent Startup Revolution: What DPIIT and Big Corporates Are Building Together

While much of the ecosystem focused on metro-led unicorns, DPIIT quietly laid the foundation for a pan-India startup movement powered by industry and inclusion.

The DPIIT MoUs go far beyond symbolic gestures. They are operational frameworks that unlock real capital, commercial pilots, mentorship, and visibility for thousands of startups—especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Corporates as Catalysts: MoUs That Move the Needle

DPIIT’s MoU framework is more than a policy instrument — it’s startup infrastructure at scale. It unlocks private-sector capacity, distribution muscle, and institutional know-how to support early-stage ventures struggling with funding gaps, scalability issues, and global exposure.

And the momentum is undeniable:

• Amazon scaled its Smbhav Venture Fund to $350 million, providing cloud credits, mentoring, and marketplace access.
• Flipkart launched a $100 million fund, writing cheques up to $500K via the Leap Ahead accelerator.
• HDFC Bank, through Parivartan Grants, deployed ₹20 crore across 50+ social impact startups.
• HCL, through eSTiP and XR Studio, supported 1,500+ startups with lab access and engineering mentorship.
• WinZO built a global pipeline for Indian gaming founders, from GDC San Francisco to national showcases like WAVES.

Individually, these are impressive initiatives. Together, they represent a systemic shift in how India builds its startup economy.

DPIIT’s Strategy: From Policy Paper to Startup Catalyst

DPIIT isn’t just playing matchmaker. It’s actively reengineering how government policy connects to market action.

Here’s how the strategy works:

• It brings in sector leaders like Michelin (tyres), HPCL (energy), Deloitte (consulting), and L’Oréal (beauty) to guide founders with industry mentorship.
• It promotes inclusive growth with targeted initiatives — Amazon Saheli, Deloitte-SAP Studio for women founders, and Startup Bharat for Tier 2/3 innovators.
• It ensures startups receive holistic support — beyond money. Founders gain access to cloud credits, pilot programs, expert mentorship, global showcases, and investor networks.

“Our ambition is to mainstream startup support across every sector of India Inc.,” Sanjiv Singh adds, underscoring the depth of DPIIT's commitment to structural change.

DPIIT’s MoUs Are Opening Doors for Founders—Funding, Pilots, and Global Access Now Within Reach

These MoUs are delivering tangible value to founders on the ground—across funding, scaling, and visibility.

TICE has previously covered key verticals of this shift like RocketFuel, Startup Bharat, and Parivartan Grants, and will continue to follow the journeys of select founders in upcoming deep-dive features.

Govt Meets Growth: DPIIT’s Public-Private Model Is Quietly Transforming the Startup Ecosystem

This new model turns India’s regulatory machinery into an innovation enabler, aligning government support with private-sector execution.

Corporates are finding in startups the speed, innovation, and IP they need to stay competitive. Startups, in return, gain:

• Commercial pilots and long-term contracts
• Global mentors and domain expertise
• Cloud infrastructure, R&D labs, and tech access
• Retail and distribution scale
• Equity-free grants and venture capital

It’s not just collaboration — it’s co-creation at national scale.

From Gaming to Agri-Tech: How DPIIT Is Fueling Startup Dreams Across Bharat

This structural transformation isn’t limited to urban tech hubs. It is reshaping entire sectors:

• Expect more PSU and MNC participation in defence, semiconductors, aerospace, and agri-tech.
• Dedicated accelerators are launching in gaming, mobility, biotech, and deeptech.
• DPIIT’s MoUs will increasingly integrate with ONDC, Gati Shakti, and India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, enabling scalable solutions for grassroots India.

Bharat’s Startup Boom Is Here—And It’s Powered by DPIIT’s Game-Changing MoUs

What began with flagship events like Startup Mahakumbh 2025 and initiatives like Leap Ahead and Smbhav has matured into a permanent national platform.

MoUs are no longer ceremonial. They’re now tactical instruments of economic transformation, channeling corporate capital into grassroots innovation.

This is not just policy in motion. It’s Bharat-style execution—spanning refineries, retail chains, rural fintech corridors, gaming labs, and agritech clusters.

And this time, India Inc. is not just supporting the startup movement—it’s leading it.

Note: Next Up on TICE News: This curtain-raiser kicks off our 3-part series on the DPIIT-Corporate Startup Alliance:

🔹 Part 2: From Factory Floors to Founders
🔹 Part 3: Gaming, Women, and Global India: New Frontiers of Innovation