New Delhi, January 16, 2026, 09:07 p.m. IST
PM Modi urges startups to build homegrown AI and lead manufacturing as Startup India marks 10 years, with record growth, unicorns, and funding.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged Indian startups to take the global lead in homegrown artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, as the country marked 10 years of the Startup India initiative. Speaking at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on National Startup Day, Modi said India’s next decade of growth must be driven by innovation built on Indian data, Indian talent, and Indian digital infrastructure.
The Prime Minister said startups should focus on creating AI solutions hosted on local servers to protect data sovereignty and strengthen national security. He described artificial intelligence as a strategic tool that can give India long-term economic and technological advantages.
India, he noted, has already emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, and the next goal should be global leadership in deep technology and manufacturing.
Startup India Sees Explosive Growth in a Decade
Modi highlighted the dramatic growth of India’s startup ecosystem since the launch of Startup India in 2016. At that time, the country had fewer than 500 registered startups. Today, India has more than 2,00,000 recognized startups, making it one of the fastest-growing innovation hubs in the world.
India is now home to around 125 active unicorns, compared to just four unicorns in 2014. The year 2025 alone saw nearly 44,000 new startup registrations, the highest ever in a single year.
The Prime Minister said this growth reflects a major cultural shift. Risk-taking entrepreneurs are now respected as job creators rather than seen as unstable career choices. He described the startup movement as a national revolution driven by young minds.
Women and Youth Drive India’s Startup Success
A major highlight of India’s startup success story is the rising participation of women. According to official data shared at the event, over 45 percent of Indian startups have at least one woman director or partner.
India now ranks second globally in funding for women-led startups, signaling stronger gender inclusion in entrepreneurship. Modi praised women founders for leading innovation in areas such as fintech, health technology, education, agriculture, and climate solutions.
Young entrepreneurs across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are also playing a key role. Many startups are solving local problems using scalable technology, especially in rural development, digital payments, and green energy.
IndiaAI Mission Expands Access to Advanced Technology
To support artificial intelligence innovation, Modi pointed to the rapid expansion of the IndiaAI Mission. More than 38,000 GPUs have been onboarded to help startups and researchers access high-performance computing at affordable costs.
The Prime Minister said AI must not remain limited to large corporations. Instead, small and early-stage startups should have equal access to advanced tools. He added that AI leadership will define economic power in the coming decades, and Indian startups must take responsibility for shaping this future.
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From Digital Services to World-Class Manufacturing
Modi also called on startups to move beyond app-based services and focus on high-quality manufacturing. He said India must build products that meet global standards and strengthen supply chains.
Government reforms have already opened sectors such as defence, space, semiconductors, drones, and civil aviation to private players. These changes, he said, have created unprecedented opportunities for innovation and exports.
The Prime Minister described Startup India as a rainbow vision, connecting technology, manufacturing, sustainability, and social impact into one unified growth model.
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the event, in which he urged startups to build homegrown AI and lead manufacturing, was shared on X.
Our goal is that in the next ten years, we further build on the ongoing momentum in the world of StartUps so that India leads the world in emerging trends and futuristic technologies.#10YearsOfStartupIndia pic.twitter.com/pQSll6h0bC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2026
Funding Support and Ease of Doing Business Reforms
The government’s Fund of Funds for Startups has so far invested over Rs 25,500 crore into 1,370 startups. A new Rs 10,000 crore fund has been announced to support deep tech, AI, and hardware-based ventures.
Modi also highlighted reforms under the Jan Vishwas Act, which removed criminal penalties from more than 180 legal provisions, reducing fear and compliance burden for entrepreneurs.
As a result, India has become a preferred global startup partner. Nearly 100 countries have expressed interest in collaborating with Indian startups in technology, innovation, and manufacturing.
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