**Executive Summary**
On March 25, 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the fintech platform Razorpay to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem. The partnership introduces the "Startup Sahayak" platform, designed to provide early- and growth-stage startups with financial tools, mentorship, and end-to-end incorporation support. This initiative aims to accelerate entrepreneurial growth, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, through structured guidance and digital infrastructure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Startup Sahayak Platform**
* Launched to provide end-to-end assistance to early-stage founders.
* Facilitates company incorporation and provides guidance on funding opportunities.
* Offers a structured interface for accessing central and state government schemes and programmes.
* **Financial and Operational Support**
* Provides startups with access to digital payment solutions and robust financial infrastructure.
* Offers DPIIT-recognised startups incorporation support with zero professional fees (excluding government charges).
* Grants access to credits and incentives across a variety of financial and business tools.
* **Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing**
* DPIIT and Razorpay will conduct regular knowledge sessions via the Startup India Hub on topics such as applied AI, marketing, product development, and financial management.
* Startups receive mentorship support, including pitch deck reviews and application guidance.
* Selected startups will be onboarded into curated founder communities to facilitate networking and peer learning in domains like engineering and hiring.
* **Innovation Initiatives**
* The collaboration will explore innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge framework.
* Future initiatives will focus on fintech-driven problem statements and digital innovation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Startups and Entrepreneurs (Early and Growth Stage)**
**Impact**
Startups gain access to essential financial infrastructure and scaling tools that reduce the barriers to entry. Founders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities specifically benefit from increased access to mentorship, networking, and professional guidance that may have previously been unavailable.
**Action Required**
Founders should register on the Startup Sahayak platform to access incorporation services, government schemes, and mentorship resources.
**DPIIT-Recognised Startups**
**Impact**
These startups are eligible for specific cost-saving benefits, including the waiver of professional fees for incorporation and access to exclusive business tool credits.
**Action Required**
Recognised startups should apply for available credits and participate in the curated founder communities to leverage peer learning and networking opportunities.
**DPIIT and Razorpay**
**Impact**
DPIIT leverages private sector expertise to fulfill its mandate of strengthening the national startup ecosystem. Razorpay expands its role as a foundational infrastructure provider for Indian innovation.
**Action Required**
Both organisations must coordinate the delivery of scheduled knowledge sessions and the organization of the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge.
Key Entities Referenced
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The nodal government department responsible for strengthening India's startup ecosystem and the primary signatory of the strategic partnership.
Razorpay: The leading fintech platform partnering with DPIIT to provide startups with access to financial tools, digital payment solutions, and mentorship.
Startup Sahayak: A dedicated platform launched under this initiative to provide end-to-end assistance, including company incorporation and guidance on government schemes, to early-stage founders.
Startup India Hub: The central resource through which DPIIT and Razorpay conduct knowledge sessions on artificial intelligence, marketing, and financial management.
Bharat Startup Grand Challenge: The framework under which innovation challenges focused on fintech-driven problem statements and digital innovation will be organized.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DPIIT Signs MoU with a Leading Fintech
Platform to Strengthen India’s Startup
Ecosystem
Startup Sahayak Platform Launched to Support Founders in
Early Growth Stages
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 4:42PM by PIB Delhi
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Government of India, has entered into a strategic partnership with a leading fintech platform,
Razorpay, to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem. The collaboration has been formalised through the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at supporting startups, innovators and
entrepreneurs across the country.
The partnership seeks to empower startups with access to financial tools, founder enablement programmes
and ecosystem support to accelerate growth. It is expected to assist early- and growth-stage startups in
scaling efficiently by leveraging digital payment solutions, financial infrastructure and startup support
initiatives. The collaboration will also provide incorporation support, mentorship and structured guidance
to help startups formalise, build and expand their operations.
As part of this initiative, a dedicated platform, Startup Sahayak, has been launched to support early-stage
founders. The platform aims to provide end-to-end assistance, including company incorporation, access to
central and state government schemes and programmes, and guidance on funding opportunities, thereby
enabling startups to access essential ecosystem support through a structured interface.
Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv, stated that the collaboration reflects the Department’s commitment to
strengthening India’s startup ecosystem through partnerships with leading fintech players. He emphasised
that facilitating seamless access to financial infrastructure and tools will play a crucial role in accelerating
the growth of startups.
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Razorpay, Shri Harshil Mathur, highlighted that the partnership
is driven by a shared vision to enable innovation and make the entrepreneurial journey more accessible
and scalable. He noted that with the increasing emergence of startups across the country, particularly in
Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, there is a growing need for robust infrastructure, mentorship and ecosystem
support.
Under the collaboration, DPIIT and Razorpay will conduct regular knowledge sessions on topics such as
applied artificial intelligence, marketing, product development and financial management through the
Startup India Hub to ensure wider outreach. DPIIT-recognised startups will also be provided incorporation
support with zero professional fees (excluding applicable government charges), along with access to
credits and incentives across a range of financial and business tools.Startups will also gain access to mentorship support, pitch deck reviews, application guidance and curated
resources to support early-stage growth. Selected startups will be onboarded into curated founder
communities to facilitate peer learning, networking and access to additional ecosystem support across
domains such as engineering, hiring and marketing.
The collaboration will further explore the organisation of innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup
Grand Challenge framework, with a focus on fintech-driven problem statements and digital innovation.
The MoU was signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, Shri T. L. K. Singh and Chief Information Officer,
Razorpay, Shri Arif Khan, in the presence of officials from both organisations.
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Abhishek Dayal/Shabbir Azad/Anushka Pandey
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