DPIIT and YourStory Sign MoU to Empower 1Million Entrepreneurs Across Tier II, III and Rural India

In a landmark move to foster inclusive entrepreneurship and strengthen India’s grassroots startup ecosystem, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with YourStory Media Pvt. Ltd., India’s pioneering digital platform for startups and innovation.

A Strategic Partnership for Inclusive Growth

YourStory has been a driving force in India’s entrepreneurial landscape, having published over 60,000 founder stories in 12 Indian languages, and enabled more than 50,000 entrepreneurs to connect with funding and networking opportunities. With a monthly readership of over 8 million, YourStory plays a pivotal role in amplifying startup voices, especially those outside metropolitan cities.

This collaboration is aligned with DPIIT’s broader vision of inclusive and grassroots entrepreneurship, focusing on the empowerment of Tier II, Tier III, and rural entrepreneurs through digital and policy support.

Bharat Project: Tech Meets Regional Empowerment

A key initiative under this MoU is YourStory’s Bharat Project, which aims to empower 1 million entrepreneurs across India’s underserved regions. The project leverages:

• AI-powered tools for venture development
• Regional language storytelling to overcome linguistic barriers
• Venture launchpads to provide market access and visibility

These efforts are designed to localize startup support, ensuring that innovation is not limited by geography or language.

Flagship Platforms to Catalyze Innovation

The partnership will also harness the potential of YourStory’s flagship events such as:

• TechSparks – India’s premier startup showcase event, which brings together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders
• DevSparks – A developer-focused summit introduced in 2024, spotlighting advancements in AI, GenAI, data, blockchain, and other frontier technologies

These events will serve as strategic engagement platforms to drive ecosystem-level impact and promote entrepreneurial innovation from all corners of the country.

Leaders Speak: Driving a Shared Vision

Shri Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, highlighted the significance of the partnership:

“Inclusive platforms like YourStory are vital for scaling the next generation of entrepreneurs. This collaboration will amplify access to networks, knowledge, and narratives, especially in underserved regions, and accelerate India’s journey toward becoming a global innovation hub.”

Ms. Shradha Sharma, Founder & CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, reaffirmed the mission:

“Democratizing storytelling and building localized digital infrastructure is essential to ensure that every entrepreneur, no matter where they are from, has access to the right support. Through this partnership with DPIIT, we are committed to making India’s startup ecosystem more inclusive, accessible, and future-ready.”

A Step Toward Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat

The MoU was officially signed by Shri Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, and Ms. Shradha Sharma, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations.

This partnership reinforces DPIIT’s unwavering commitment to nurturing an inclusive, innovation-driven startup ecosystem, in line with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047.