Bihar launches ambitious initiative to support 10,000 startups from the state

Bihar is betting big on homegrown innovation. In an effort to build one of India’s most inclusive startup ecosystems, the state’s Department of Industries has launched a statewide programme to identify, support, and scale 10,000 new ventures across its 38 districts.

The initiative tilted 'Bihar Idea Festival' was formally launched at B-HUB, the state’s flagship innovation hub in Patna, in collaboration with Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) and YourStory Media.

This marks the Bihar Chapter of The Bharat Project, a YourStory mission to democratise entrepreneurship by making essential resources accessible to every aspiring founder, regardless of their background or location.

Speaking at the launch event, Nitish Mishra, Minister, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, said, "The Department of Industries is fully committed to promoting entrepreneurship in Bihar. The state's schemes are delivering tangible benefits to startups.

"This special initiative led by YourStory Media, in collaboration with CIMP, CIMP-BIIF Institute, TiE Patna, and the Department of Industries, is truly commendable. It is a pledge - an opening chapter in the story of a New Bihar. This effort continues the same spirit we initiated with the launch of the Bihar Innovation Forum back in 2013."

He added, “This is not just about startups. It’s about unlocking aspiration at scale.”

Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, who was formally inducted as a mentor at CIMP during the launch, called the initiative “a fundamental shift in how we think about who gets to be an entrepreneur in India.”

“Bihar’s innovators don’t need handouts,” she said. “They need visibility, support, and a seat at the table.

The programme’s core promise is to move startup support closer to the grassroots, targeting students, artisans, women-led businesses, farmers, and first-generation founders often excluded from mainstream startup funding and visibility."

Collaboration for nurturing innovation

The initiative marks a rare public-private-academic collaboration aimed at nurturing emerging entrepreneurs from every corner of the state.

At the centre of Bihar Idea Festival is the commitment to back 10,000 startups with incubation, mentorship, and access to digital infrastructure. This will be supplemented by a 38-district bus yatra, a tour aimed at discovering early-stage ideas from underserved communities.

CIMP will provide academic and incubation support through its Business Incubation and Innovation Foundation (BIIF), while the state’s district industries centres, MSME offices, and local networks will mobilise outreach.

YourStory will play an active role in supporting Bihar’s entrepreneurs through storytelling, visibility, and mentorship for emerging founders. It will curate and amplify the journey of 50 high-potential startups through national digital coverage, investor connects, and partnership opportunities, placing Bihar’s innovators on the startup map of India.

The Bihar Idea Festival aims to bring founders and investors together in a state-level showcase.

Why Bihar, why now?

While Bihar’s economy has seen growth in agriculture, construction, and services, entrepreneurship remains unevenly distributed. Most startup activity is concentrated in a handful of urban centres, and institutional support outside Patna has been sporadic. Much of the talent from the state is disconnected from structured guidance, funding, and visibility.

This disconnect is what The Bharat Project seeks to address through the Bihar chapter, which is the project's most ambitious regional push so far.

“This is a long game,” said Dr Rana Singh, Director of CIMP. “We are not just looking at unicorns. We’re looking at viability, resilience, and regional economic growth.”

Kumod Kumar, CEO, CIMP-BIIF, and President, TiE Patna, said the platform could fill the long-standing vacuum in Bihar’s innovation story. “We have talent. We have ideas. What we’ve lacked is a structured pipeline. This could be the beginning of one.”

"This initiative is truly a revolution for the youth and entrepreneurs of the state ... It will not only create employment opportunities for the youth but also improve their livelihoods. Additionally, it will bring about a significant transformation in Bihar's economic landscape," he added.

"The Bihar Idea Festival marks the beginning of a revolution in Bihar. We will travel across all 38 districts to show people how to build businesses and generate income," said YourStory's Shradha Sharma.

"Over the next 30 to 45 days, we aim to collect 10,000 startup ideas. Selected startups from this pool will receive funding support to scale their ventures and create employment opportunities. I especially want women from across the state to participate actively, so we can advance the cause of women’s empowerment in Bihar," she added.

The first leg of the 38-district startup yatra is expected to kick off later this month.