India doubles down on state-backed venture capital, approving $1.1B fund

Core Insights - India has approved a $1.1 billion state-backed venture capital program aimed at funding startups through private investors, focusing on high-risk sectors like artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing [2] Group 1: Program Details - The ₹100 billion fund received cabinet approval over a year after being proposed in the January 2025 budget speech, allowing for the deployment of government funds into the startup ecosystem [3] - This program is structured as a fund of funds, which means the government will indirectly support startups by investing in private investment firms, with a focus on deep-tech and manufacturing startups that require longer investment horizons and larger capital [4] Group 2: Startup Growth - The number of startups in India has surged from fewer than 500 in 2016 to over 200,000 today, with more than 49,000 startups registered in 2025 alone, marking the highest annual total on record [5] Group 3: Regulatory Changes - Recent changes to India's startup rules have extended the classification period for deep-tech companies as startups to 20 years and increased the revenue threshold for startup-specific benefits to ₹3 billion (approximately $33 million) from ₹1 billion [6] Group 4: Upcoming Events - The approval of the venture capital program coincides with the upcoming India AI Impact Summit, which will feature participation from global AI companies and Indian corporates, highlighting India's attractiveness as a market for tech expansion [7]