Following the announcement of the National Startup Awards 2022 by Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal on 16th January 2023, the Secretary of DPIIT, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, launched the handholding support for the winners and finalists on 2nd May 2023. This support program encompasses a range of virtual and physical sessions, delegations, showcases, and specialized assistance. The objective is to guide the startups towards overcoming challenges and achieving greater success by offering tailored initiatives in areas such as Investor Pitching, Government Connects, Corporate & Unicorn Engagements, Brand Showcase, and International Market Access.
The handholding support aims to provide startups with optimal opportunities for showcasing, learning, networking, and building brand trust. It also seeks to generate excitement around their products and facilitate outreach to potential customers. Several partners, including Government e-Marketplace, SIDBI, IVCA, IAN, HSBC, Mobikwik, Good Glam Group, PHDCCI, and Viacom 18, have joined hands to execute this initiative.
Under the handholding program for National Startup Awards 2020, which encompassed nine tracks, over 400 connections were facilitated with ministries, investors, corporates, and mentors. Additionally, 12 episodes featuring the winners were aired on Doordarshan Startup Champions, and 192 finalists received one-on-one mentorship from industry experts. Similarly, for National Startup Awards 2021, spanning seven tracks, more than 30 knowledge sessions and 10+ pitching sessions were conducted for the winners and finalists. The cohort also benefited from over 185 hours of mentorship. Moreover, more than 110 startups were exclusively showcased at the Dubai Expo.
The National Startup Awards, conceived under the Startup India initiative of the DPIIT, aim to recognize and reward exceptional startups that have demonstrated financial, social, and economic excellence. The previous two editions of the awards recognized and rewarded over 80 winners and 300 finalists. In the National Startup Awards 2022, 41 startups across 17 sectors and 50 sub-sectors, along with 2 incubators and 1 accelerator, were identified as winners. Furthermore, 82 finalist startups successfully showcased their capabilities through various evaluation rounds.
