**Executive Summary**
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) participated in a virtual interaction for the FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme on July 3, 2026. The initiative identifies high-potential Indian startups in sectors such as manufacturing and EVs, providing seven selected winners with INR 30 lakh each in funding. The program establishes a structured post-funding framework to provide specialized mentoring, handholding support, and market-readiness validation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Program Overview and Objectives**
* The challenge aims to support innovative and scalable Indian startups across key sectors: manufacturing, sustainability, education, decarbonization, and automotive/EVs.
* The initiative is designed to align startup solutions with national priorities and strengthen India’s position as a global innovation leader.
* **Selection Process and Financial Support**
* A nationwide call for applications led to the shortlisting of 32 startups for jury presentations.
* Seven startups were ultimately selected based on innovation, scalability, impact, and business potential.
* Each of the seven selected startups is awarded INR 30 lakh in funding support.
* **Post-Funding Mentoring Framework**
* Startups will receive specialized guidance on regulatory and legal compliance, taxation, and fund utilization.
* Mentorship covers strategic business areas including fundraising, valuation fundamentals, term sheet negotiations, and intellectual property protection.
* Technical support focuses on data privacy, cybersecurity, and building globally competitive ventures.
* **Market Engagement Initiatives**
* **Demo Days:** Scheduled events where startups showcase innovations and growth strategies to industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.
* **Sounding Board Programme:** A strategic mentorship initiative providing industry insights and leadership perspectives to help startups refine business models and accelerate market readiness.
**Impact Analysis**
**Selected Startups**
**Impact**
They receive critical financial capital and access to specialized expertise in legal, financial, and technical domains, enhancing their investment readiness and scalability.
**Action Required**
Engage in the structured mentoring framework, participate in the Sounding Board Programme, and prepare business models for showcase during Demo Days.
**Industry Leaders and Investors**
**Impact**
They gain access to a vetted pool of high-potential startups, providing opportunities to validate market readiness and unlock potential partnerships or future funding rounds.
**Action Required**
Participate in Demo Days to evaluate innovations and provide industry insights through mentorship roles.
**DPIIT and Government Bodies**
**Impact**
The program reinforces the government’s commitment to fostering a robust startup ecosystem and driving innovation-led growth.
**Action Required**
Continue to facilitate collaborative efforts between industry bodies (FICCI) and corporate partners (Mercedes-Benz India) to support early-stage innovation.
Key Entities Referenced
FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme: An initiative launched to identify and support high-potential Indian startups in sectors like manufacturing and EVs through funding and structured mentoring.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The nodal government department participating in the program to strengthen India's startup ecosystem and drive innovation-led growth.
Sounding Board Programme: A strategic mentorship initiative under the challenge designed to provide startups with industry insights, expert guidance, and leadership perspectives.
Mercedes-Benz India: A key corporate partner involved in the implementation of the program and providing funding support of INR 30 lakh to selected startups.
FICCI: The industry body co-implementing the innovation challenge to facilitate interaction between startups and ecosystem stakeholders.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DPIIT Engages with Startups under FICCI
Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business
Ideas Challenge Programme
Seven Selected Startups to Receive Structured Post-Funding
Mentoring and Handholding Support
प्रव तथ: 03 JUL 2026 4:21PM by PIB Delhi
Reaffirming its continued commitment to strengthening India's startup and innovation ecosystem, the
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) participated in a virtual interaction
under the FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme.
The FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme was launched to
identify and support high-potential Indian startups developing innovative and scalable solutions across key
sectors, including manufacturing, sustainability, education, decarbonization and automotive/EVs.
Addressing the participants, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Ateesh Kumar Singh congratulated FICCI
and Mercedes-Benz India on the successful implementation of the programme. He said the initiative
reflects the growing strength of India’s innovation ecosystem and the immense potential of the country's
young entrepreneurs. He noted that by providing timely mentorship and support, the programme
empowers innovators to develop solutions aligned with national priorities. He added that such
collaborative efforts are essential for driving innovation-led growth and strengthening India’s position as a
global innovation leader.
As part of the programme, a structured post-funding mentoring and handholding framework has been
announced for the seven selected startups to accelerate their growth and enhance investment readiness.
The initiative will provide targeted support across critical business, regulatory, financial, legal, investment
and technology domains, enabling startups to build scalable, resilient and globally competitive ventures.
Under this framework, the selected startups will receive specialised mentoring on regulatory and legal
compliance, taxation and fund utilisation, fundraising strategy, valuation fundamentals, term sheet
negotiations, data privacy, cybersecurity and intellectual property protection.
The programme will also feature dedicated Demo Days, providing startups with opportunities to showcase
their innovations, business models and growth strategies before industry leaders, investors, mentors and
ecosystem stakeholders. These interactions will help validate market readiness, strengthen strategic
positioning and unlock potential partnerships and funding opportunities.
Additionally, the selected startups will benefit from the "Sounding Board Programme", a strategic
mentorship initiative designed to provide industry insights, expert guidance and leadership perspectives to
help refine their business models, sharpen growth strategies and accelerate their journey towards marketreadiness and long-term success, thereby contributing to Bharat's vision of becoming a global hub for
innovation and entrepreneurship.
Following a nationwide call for applications, startups from across India participated in the programme.
After a rigorous multi-stage evaluation by industry experts and ecosystem stakeholders, 32 startups were
shortlisted and invited to present their innovations before the jury and leadership team. Based on
innovation, scalability, business potential and impact, seven startups were selected to receive funding
support of INR 30 lakh each, along with post-funding mentoring and business support.
The interaction highlighted the importance of structured ecosystem support, mentorship and industry
collaboration in enabling startups to move beyond early-stage innovation and build globally competitive
enterprises, reinforcing DPIIT's continued focus on fostering a robust startup ecosystem in the country.
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Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan / Ishita Biswas
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2280737) आगंतुक पटल : 445
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