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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 348.
TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 17TH MARCH, 2026.
STARTUP INDIA FUND OF FUNDS 2.0
*348. PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:
SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री
(a) whether the Government is aware that Rs. 10,000 crore Startup India Fund of
Funds 2.0 has been announced to mobilise venture capital for deep-tech,
technology-driven manufacturing and early-growth startups and the role
envisaged for Mumbai as a national startup and financial hub in its
implementation;
(b) the details and number of startups from Mumbai and Maharashtra that have
received or are proposed to receive support under the Fund, sector-wise;
(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to leverage Mumbai’s financial
ecosystem, incubators and accelerators to expand access to venture capital for
startups across Maharashtra;
(d) the measures being taken by the Government to extend mentoring,
handholding and investor outreach from Mumbai to startups in non-metro
districts; and
(e) the future roadmap to strengthen Mumbai’s role as a gateway for inclusive,
regionally balanced startup financing in Maharashtra?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एव ं उद्योग मत्रं ी (श्री पीयषू गोयल)
THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*********STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 348 FOR ANSWER ON 17.03.2026
(a): The Union Cabinet has recently approved the establishment of the Startup India
Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0) with a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore.
The Scheme is designed to accelerate the next phase of India’s startup journey
by mobilising long-term domestic capital, strengthening the venture capital
ecosystem, and supporting innovation across the country.
The new fund will adopt a targeted and segmented funding approach, with a focus
on deep-tech, technology-driven innovative manufacturing, and early-growth
innovative ideas, thereby catalysing venture capital investments in emerging
sectors across India, including Maharashtra. Cities with established financial and
venture capital ecosystems, such as Mumbai, play an important role in facilitating
the mobilisation of venture capital and strengthening the broader startup
investment ecosystem.
The Scheme builds upon the experience and performance of the Fund of Funds
for Startups Scheme (FFS 1.0) implemented under the Startup India initiative.
Under FFS 1.0, the Government provides capital to SEBI-registered Alternative
Investment Funds (AIFs) through the Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI), which in turn invests in startups across sectors and stages.
As on 31st January 2026, Rs. 6,801.95 crore has been committed to 80 AIFs
supported under the Scheme from the State of Maharashtra. This includes 78
AIFs from the city of Mumbai that have been committed with Rs. 6,756.95 crore
under the Scheme.
(b): In the State of Maharashtra, supported AIFs under the FFS 1.0 have invested Rs.
6,025.25 crore in 276 startups as on 31st January 2026. Particularly in Mumbai
city, Rs. 4,697.3 crore has been invested in 231 startups by AIFs supported under
the Scheme. The sector-wise details of startups supported by AIFs under the FFS,
in Mumbai city are placed as Annexure-I.
In addition to FFS, recognised startups from Mumbai have availed funding and
incubation support through other flagship funding schemes under the Startup India
initiative viz. Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee
Scheme for Startups (CGSS).
Under the SISFS, supported incubators have approved Rs. 27.56 crore to 152
startups from Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban districts. Under the Credit
Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), in Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban
districts, 11 loans amounting to Rs. 42.9 crore have been guaranteed to startup
borrowers.
(c) to (e): Under the Startup India initiative, the Government unveiled an action plan for
startups comprising of schemes and incentives envisaged to create a vibrant
startup ecosystem in the country. The Action Plan comprises of 19 action items
spanning across areas such as “Simplification and handholding”, “Funding
support and incentives” and “Industry-academia partnership and incubation”.
The Government also implements periodic exercises and programs including
States’ Startup Ranking, National Startup Awards, and Innovation Week which
play an important role in the holistic development of the startup ecosystem. TheGovernment also encourages and supports ecosystem-led initiatives such as
Startup Mahakumbh which serves as a vibrant platform for stakeholders to
network and collaborate. Initiatives to improve market access and enable public
procurement support startups in growing and scaling up their businesses. These
measures are complemented by regulatory reforms and other ecosystem
development events and programs. Specific measures undertaken to promote the
startup ecosystem across States/Union Territories (UTs), including in Mumbai and
non-metro districts in Maharashtra are placed as Annexure-II.
Further, specifically in the State of Maharashtra, 36,782 entities have been
recognized as startups by the Government with a recognised startup emerging
from every district of the State. Specifically in Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban
districts, 11,789 entities have been recognized as startups as on 31st January
2026.
As on 31st January 2026, supported AIFs under the FFS Scheme have invested
Rs. 6,025.25 crore in 276 startups from the State of Maharashtra, including non-
metro cities such as Bhiwandi.
As on 31st January 2026, supported incubators under SISFS have approved Rs.
105.06 crore to 559 startups from the State of Maharashtra including non-
metro districts such as Amravati, Buldhana, Hingoli, Kolhapur, Sangli, and
Solapur.
Additionally, under the CGSS, as on 31st January 2026, 78 loans amounting to
Rs. 187.6 crore has been guaranteed to startups from the State of
Maharashtra including non-metro districts such as Ahilyanagar, Akola, Palghar,
and Yavatmal.
Support to the startup ecosystem in Maharashtra through the Government
of Maharashtra
The Government of Maharashtra has introduced the Maharashtra Startup,
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025, which provides a framework for
expanding funding access, infrastructure and ecosystem support for startups in
the State. The policy includes provisions for financial assistance and ecosystem
development to strengthen the startup landscape across Maharashtra.
The State has also instituted funding mechanisms such as the Maharashtra Fund
of Funds in partnership with SIDBI, supporting professionally managed venture
funds that invest in startups across the State. Additionally, the Maharashtra
Innovation and Technological Development Fund (MITDF) provides a dedicated
venture funding mechanism for early-stage and growth capital.
Complementary ecosystem initiatives include the establishment of micro-
incubators in ITIs, polytechnics and colleges, development of regional innovation
and entrepreneurship hubs, strengthening of district innovation committees and
funds, and programmes such as Startup Yatra, innovation challenges and
hackathons, along with a statewide mentor network and digital knowledge
platform connecting startups with investors, experts and institutions.
*******ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 348 FOR ANSWER ON 17.03.2026.
Sector-wise details of startups selected in Mumbai city by AIFs under the FFS as on 31st
January 2026 are as follows:
Sector No. of startups selected Amount invested by AIFs
by AIFs (in Rs. crore)
Advertising/Media/Entertainment 9 41.23
Agriculture/Agritech 3 51.50
Artificial Intelligence / Robotics 5 243.95
Automotive 3 55.72
BioTechnology 2 15.49
Business Product and Services 13 313.00
Clean Tech/ Clean Energy 4 88.34
Consumer Goods & Services 20 274.51
E-Commerce 11 215.44
Education/Edtech 15 148.92
Financial Services/Fintech 31 867.14
Food & Beverages 10 118.60
Healthcare/Health-tech 31 851.82
IT & ITES 45 488.11
Logistics/Transport 11 292.46
Manufacturing 14 464.23
Others 1 34.50
Travel and Tourism 3 132.33
Total 231 4697.3
*******ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 348 FOR ANSWER ON 17.03.2026.
The details of various measures being undertaken to promote the startup ecosystem are
as follows:
1. Capacity Building and Handholding
Capacity building workshops are undertaken throughout the year across regions
including nonmetro cities under the States’ Startup Ranking (‘SRF’) exercise to promote
and handhold States and UTs in developing regional ecosystems. Monitoring, capacity
development, and handholding sessions are also conducted specifically for incubators
beyond metro cities and regions. Various other startup workshops and demos are
organized to handhold startups to access the flagship schemes and challenges
launched under Startup India.
2. Outreach and Awareness
Outreach and awareness activities for startups are organized across the country
including in areas beyond metropolitan cities. These activities include encouraging
entrepreneurs from non-metropolitan cities and enabling opportunities for funding,
incubation, mentorship and business linkages in collaboration with State/UT
administrations. Various startup showcases are also organised where startups pitch
their business proposals to investors and participate in capacity building activities. The
programs implemented under the Startup India initiative are also propagated through
various social media platforms.
3. Ecosystem Development Events and Programs
Various national ecosystem development events and programs are held such as the
Startup Mahakumbh, which fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing the
ecosystem together from various parts of the country; the Startup India Innovation week
is held around the National Startup Day i.e., 16th January, to celebrate
entrepreneurship and promote innovation with stakeholders from across India. The
Startup India Yatra initiative was also launched with an aim to reach Tier 2 and Tier 3
cities of India to search for entrepreneurial talent and help develop the startup
ecosystem. It was conducted across 16 districts in Maharashtra, reaching
approximately 5,000 individuals and offering incubation support to 100 aspiring
entrepreneurs.
4. International Exposure and Linkages
The Startup20 Engagement Group was institutionalised under India’s G20 Presidency
to facilitate harmonisation and cross collaboration amongst the largest global
economies. The meetings and engagements of Startup20 Engagement Group under
India’s G20 Presidency were held across the country providing access to global market,
visibility and resources of India’s regionals startup ecosystems. International linkages
are further developed through international Government to Government partnerships,participation in international forums, hosting of global events, and international bridges
with different countries that aid in promoting cross collaboration. The launch of India–
France Year of Innovation 2026, held on 17 February 2026 in Mumbai, marked an
important step in strengthening bilateral collaboration in innovation, startups, research,
and advanced technologies between the two countries.
5. Encouraging Ecosystem Collaboration
The Government launched the Startup India Hub portal for stakeholders of the
entrepreneurial ecosystem in India to discover resources, information, and various
benefits under the Startup India initiative on a common digital platform. This portal
enables various programs and initiatives to be accessed digitally, improving
accessibility for entrepreneurs and startups even from nonmetro cities and regions.
6. Various other programs and initiatives are also undertaken by the Government such
as GENESIS (Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups) Scheme, TIDE 2.0
(Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) Scheme, Chips to Start-
up (C2S) Programme, Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, Entrepreneurship
Development Programmes (EDPs) and Entrepreneurship Skill Development
Programmes (ESDPs), Scheme for Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and
Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), Research,
Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, National Initiative for Developing and
Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI), and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance
Council (BIRAC) schemes.
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