DPIIT–CarDekho Pact to Fuel Startup Growth in Mobility, Fintech & Emerging Tech

India’s startup story is one of the most vibrant in the world—but scaling from a promising idea to a market-ready product remains a steep climb for many founders. Now, a new partnership between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and CarDekho Group is promising to make that journey a little smoother.

In a significant move under the Government’s Startup India initiative, DPIIT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CarDekho Group—one of India’s leading Autotech and finance solutions companies—to accelerate innovation in mobility, fintech, insurtech, and emerging technologies.

The partnership is designed to give DPIIT-recognised startups a strong push by opening doors to strategic mentorship, deep market insights, technology infrastructure, and crucially—potential funding opportunities.

DPIIT & CarDekho Partners

At the heart of this collaboration is access—access to the right mentors, the right markets, and the right customers. CarDekho Group will extend its diverse portfolio to participating startups, covering a broad range of platforms such as:

• CarDekho – India’s leading car search and sales platform

• InsuranceDekho – A fast-growing insurtech platform

• rupyy – A fintech platform offering vehicle financing solutions

• BikeDekho, ZigWheels, PowerDrift – Popular automotive content and review platforms

• Revv – Shared mobility service

• CollegeDekho, Crack-ED – Edtech platforms

For startups, this could mean opportunities for product integration, customer outreach, and co-branding—a rare advantage for young companies looking to build credibility and reach at scale.

Driving Innovation with Challenges and Funding

One of the flagship activities under this collaboration will be innovation challenges hosted as part of the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge. These will focus on high-growth areas like:

• Electric mobility

• Auto-tech solutions

• Financial technology innovations

• Sustainability-driven products and services

Startups selected through these challenges will gain domain-specific mentorship from CarDekho’s leadership and have a shot at co-investments through the Girnar Vision Fund (GVF)—CarDekho’s investment arm.

Building Skills for the Future

The partnership isn’t just about funding and exposure; it’s also about capability building. Skill development programs will be rolled out in collaboration with CarDekho’s various brands, equipping founders and their teams with both entrepreneurial and technical skills.

This approach ensures that startups not only grow faster but also build the resilience and skillsets needed to survive in competitive markets.

“By connecting the expertise of leading corporates with the innovation potential of Indian startups, we can unlock powerful solutions for mobility, finance, and sustainability,” said Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT.

“CarDekho’s deep industry knowledge, strong customer base, and diverse platforms will give startups a unique ecosystem to experiment, grow, and scale,” added Dr. Sumeet Jarangal, Director, DPIIT.

Amit Jain, Co-founder & CEO of CarDekho Group, summed up the vision: “Partnering with DPIIT and integrating with the Startup India platform enables us to mentor, fund, and provide market access to emerging entrepreneurs—paving the way for a more sustainable and tech-driven future.”

Founded in 2008, CarDekho Group has grown into a $1.2 billion-valued company with nearly 50 million monthly users. The Group operates across multiple sectors—Autotech, Insurtech, Fintech, Shared Mobility, and Fleet Management—and runs leading automotive content platforms. It has also expanded internationally to the UAE and Southeast Asia.

In line with its sustainability vision, CarDekho has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and aligns its efforts with five UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This MoU is more than a formal agreement—it’s a signal that India’s startup growth story will be increasingly shaped by collaborations between government and industry leaders. For founders, it’s a chance to turn ideas into scalable businesses with the backing of both a strong corporate partner and the nation’s flagship startup program.