16th January, 2023 – National: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal stated that the government is adopting a startup mindset, constantly seeking new and innovative ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, transparency, and integrity of systems and processes across the country. He made these comments while addressing the attendees of the National Startup Awards 2022 in New Delhi, where he congratulated the winners and expressed hope that the awards will inspire them to continue pushing boundaries. He praised Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for being a driving force behind India’s startup culture and acknowledged the various initiatives taken by the government to lay the foundation for a strong and thriving India. He emphasized the need for more innovative ideas to be nurtured in order to continue the nation’s rapid growth and meet the aspirations of a young India.
He praised the Prime Minister’s leadership in implementing initiatives such as Digital India, 4G and 5G rollout, and broadband connectivity in rural areas, which have helped drive growth in the startup ecosystem across the country. The Minister also mentioned specific programs such as the COWIN app, One Nation, One Ration Card, PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, UPI, Open Network for Digital Commerce, and JAM Trinity, which have had a significant impact on promoting honesty, integrity, and transparency in government systems.
The Union Minister praised the ‘MAARG’ portal, stating that it will aid in honing and perfecting ideas. He also highlighted the investor connect portal, emphasizing its potential to provide innovators in remote areas with crucial resources and funding opportunities. The Minister emphasized the role of technology in enabling progress and bringing development to all citizens, thereby improving their quality of life. The government’s focus on simplifying citizens’ interactions with the government is reflected in the MAARG portal, he said. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s decision to eliminate the need for document notarization, which places trust in the common citizen and has not been misused. He encouraged startups to offer suggestions for streamlining processes and making them more cost-effective. He also noted that over 39,000 compliance requirements have already been reduced, and asked for further suggestions on decriminalizing procedures to ease compliance burden.
The Minister stressed the importance of creating a stronger database for startups, in order to improve their connections with the government, industry organizations, and the public. He emphasized the need to gather more ideas from innovators, and said that this government is open to listening and engaging with all stakeholders in building the future of India.
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Prakash, emphasized the government’s efforts in supporting the growth of startups through various means such as funding and mentorship. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, a jury member of the National Startup Awards, praised the efforts of Startup India, DPIIT and acknowledged the significant role the government plays in fostering the development of startups.
The National Startup Awards 2022 ceremony saw the release of the National Startup Awards Report, which offers a comprehensive overview of the support provided to previous award-winning startups and the 2022 winners. Additionally, the MAARG (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth) platform was launched during the event. The platform connects startups with over 600 mentors across various industries, stages, and functions, and now includes live matchmaking to support startups in their growth and impact in India and beyond.
The National Startup Awards were established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to recognize and reward outstanding startups that provide innovative solutions leading to large-scale employment and sustainable economic development. The third edition of the awards, launched on February 1, 2022, during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, recognized and honored startups and enablers who have made a significant impact on the development of India through their exceptional capabilities and measurable societal impact. This year’s awards included a greater focus on diversity, inclusion and innovation, with an expansion of sectors and sub-sectors covered to 17 and 50 respectively, and the addition of 2 new special categories – Manufacturing Excellence and Startups from North-East and Hilly States and Union Territories – to further encourage participation from these regions. The first edition of the awards was concluded in October 2020, with 36 startups, 1 incubator and 1 accelerator recognized as winners in their respective categories.
The National Startup Awards 2022 received a total of 2,667 applications from startups, incubators, and accelerators from various states and union territories across the country. These applications were reviewed and evaluated by a panel of over 50 jury members, which included government officials, venture capitalists, startup CEOs, industry leaders, and educators. In the third edition of the awards, 41 startups, 2 incubators, and 1 accelerator were recognized as winners in their respective categories. The diversity of the winners, with many emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, highlights the growing entrepreneurship and innovation spirit in the country.
The winners (per category) will be awarded a sum of Rs. 5 lakh each for startups, and Rs. 15 lakhs each for the winning incubator and accelerator. The results can be accessed on the Startup India webpage (https://www.startupindia.gov.in/nsa2022results/), and the call for applications for National Startup Awards 2023 will be announced soon on the website https://www.startupindia.gov.in.
Click here to view the list of Awardees.