IIT Madras & Startup Policy Forum Partners for Research & Innovation

India’s startup ecosystem is at a crucial juncture, where innovation and policy must go hand in hand to drive sustainable growth. With India emerging as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, strategic collaborations are essential to shape the future of entrepreneurship in the country. In a landmark move, the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has signed an MoU with IIT Madras to drive data-backed research, innovation, and policy advocacy aimed at strengthening India’s startup landscape.

This collaboration brings together SPF, a startup advocacy body, and IIT Madras’s Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST), an institute known for its expertise in startup financing research. The alliance is poised to bridge the gap between policy and industry, ensuring that startups are not just growing but thriving under a well-researched and structured policy framework.

Why This Partnership Matters for Indian Startups

For years, Indian startups have navigated a rapidly evolving landscape with limited data-driven policy support. While the government has introduced various schemes and initiatives, a strong research foundation has often been missing—something that this partnership aims to address.

CREST, known for its in-depth research on startup financing and risk assessment, will contribute to SPF’s mission of shaping a robust startup policy environment. Additionally, this partnership will strengthen IIT Madras’s YNOS platform, a startup intelligence hub that brings together data on founders, funding, policies, and government support systems.

Shweta Rajpal Kohli, the President & CEO of SPF, emphasized that the collaboration is about being proactive rather than reactive. “This partnership with IIT Madras is a testament to our commitment to shaping policies that anticipate and address the needs of India’s dynamic startup landscape,” she said.

The Vision: Empowering Founders & Industry Leaders

SPF, founded by Shweta Rajpal Kohli, is a platform that seeks to connect startup founders with policymakers and regulators, ensuring that voices from the ground are heard at the highest levels of decision-making. The forum has already made a significant impact, working closely with key government bodies to position Indian startups on the global stage.

IIT Madras, with its legacy of technological excellence, sees this partnership as an opportunity to translate research into meaningful policy contributions. Manu Santhanam, Dean of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research at IIT Madras, highlighted that the collaboration will co-create knowledge, support industry leaders, and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The Powerhouses Behind SPF

The Startup Policy Forum is not just another policy think tank—it is backed by some of India’s biggest startup success stories. Its founding members include leading unicorns and high-growth startups such as Razorpay, CRED, Pine Labs, Groww, Acko, OYO, Swiggy, Practo, Dream11, and MPL. With the support of these industry pioneers, the forum aims to shape policies that foster innovation, drive entrepreneurial growth, and strengthen India's startup ecosystem.

SPF’s Larger Mission: Bridging India with Global Investors

Beyond research and policy advocacy, SPF has been actively working towards connecting Indian startups with global investors. Just last month, SPF announced a collaboration with The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to curate specialized immersive programs designed to link international investors with India’s booming startup ecosystem.

By bringing global capital, knowledge, and networks to Indian startups, SPF is ensuring that the country continues its upward trajectory in innovation and entrepreneurship.

What This Means for Startups & Policymakers

For startups, this collaboration is a step toward more structured, data-driven policymaking. It means that future startup policies won’t just be based on assumptions but will be backed by rigorous research. It also indicates a stronger government and industry alignment—where entrepreneurs will have a clearer regulatory roadmap and better access to resources.

For policymakers, the partnership provides an opportunity to craft policies that directly address startup challenges, making India an even more attractive destination for innovation and investment.

With a booming startup ecosystem, India needs policies that keep pace with its entrepreneurs. The IIT Madras-SPF collaboration is a bold step in the right direction—one that ensures data, research, and industry insights drive the next phase of India’s startup revolution.

As this partnership unfolds, its impact will be felt across sectors—from fintech to edtech, healthtech to agritech. With research-backed policymaking at the core, India’s startups are set to soar higher than ever before.