These tier-two cities are not far behind when it comes to startup ecosystems

India has a done a pretty impressive job in the startup ecosystem. From 2014 to 2015, she moved a step higher on Nasscom’s list and stood third among global startup ecosystems with more than 4200 new age companies. Although India has managed to prove her entrepreneurial prowess on the global front, it wouldn’t be too wrong to say that when one utters the word ‘startup’, one cannot help but instantly think of Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. While we do agree that the tier-one cities hold the Crème de la crème of startups in India, we certainly cannot dismiss the second tier cities that are creating a buzz and setting the bar high for others.

Here is a list of three tier-two cities that are progressing exceptionally in supporting the startup ecosystem in the country.

Jaipur

The ‘Pink City’, as some of us still might call it, is no longer only a tourist attraction. Over the years, the Rajasthan capital has transformed itself into a new destination for investors and venture capitalists. With hundreds of enthusiastic youngsters ready to put their knowledge and concepts to use, Jaipur is becoming the hub of successful entrepreneurship. A large factor contributing to the startup boom can also be related to the fact that Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund (RVCF) has signed an agreement with Startup Oasis and CIIE to dedicate 10 percent of its Rs 500 crore third fund for the startups. With that being said, it is rightful to mention that Jaipur also owns the largest IT SEZ in India. With more than 40 startups under the process, Jaipur is up for some serious investments from capitalists who boost the likes of Ola and Flipkart.

Some startups which actually started in Jaipur and then experienced tremendous success include Cardekho.com, RazorPay, Intellipaat and HippoCabs, but the list goes on.

Pune

Pune, the youth capital of India, has more to it than one can think of, especially for aspiring entrepreneurs. With hundreds of fresh college graduates and ignited minds looking to get into action, Pune has shown its caliber. The city has a great startup community to boast of because the Pune Open Coffee club has more 15,000 registered startup enthusiasts in its mailing list. To help the ecosystem grow a little bit more, organisational initiatives like Roundtables by iSpirt and Product Nation, TiECon Pune organized by TiE Pune have proved to be beneficial. A city that is brimming with new talent and energy, coupled with a supportive community and lower rents, Pune is the next big thing, and success stories of companies like Xpressbees, Intouchapp and Arcatron Mobility and Sling only prove this.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh reminds us of manicured lawns, well-planned infrastructure, efficient administration and scenic beauty, and another thing that is fast emerging in this city is its vibrant startup culture. With the promising opportunities and easy accessibility of resources, the city is emerging as a fast-growing startup hub in India, and startups like LearnVenue, Busibud, and JumboBasket showcase this. Another major help has been from Innov8, a co-working space which opened up in Chandigarh last month to motive and boost the startup ecosystem to grow and flourish in the tri-city area. Taking the Prime Minister’s vision of “Make in India” forward, events like TieCon Chandigarh plan to further the mission to foster entrepreneurship and create an ideal startup ecosystem and address some pressing issues.

India, being a land of untapped resources and immense manpower, has a lot to offer if tapped at the right places with the right kind of infrastructure, and the above cities only takes this contention further.