Top 100 Startups in India:
India has emerged as the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world, powered by innovation, digital adoption, and strong government support like Startup India. From fintech and edtech to SaaS and EVs, Indian startups are solving real-world problems at massive scale.
Top 10 Startups in India in Last 5 Years
Zepto
Founded: 2021
Founders: Aadit Palicha, Kaivalya Vohra
Industry: Quick Commerce
What They Do: 10-minute grocery delivery using dark stores
Why It’s Big: Young founders, fastest delivery model, unicorn within 2 years
Impact: Changed urban grocery consumption
Skyroot Aerospace
Founded: 2018
Founders: Pawan Kumar Chandana, Naga Bharath Daka
Industry: SpaceTech
What They Do: Small satellite launch vehicles
Why It’s Big: First private Indian company to launch a rocket
Impact: Boosted India’s private space ecosystem
Groww
Founded: 2016 (scaled massively post-2020)
Founders: Lalit Keshre, Neeraj Singh, Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal
Industry: FinTech
What They Do: Stock, MF & investment platform
Why It’s Big: Simplified investing for millennials
Impact: Financial inclusion at scale
CRED
Founded: 2018
Founder: Kunal Shah
Industry: FinTech
What They Do: Credit card bill payments with rewards
Why It’s Big: Premium user base + strong branding
Impact: Changed credit behavior in India
Ola Electric
Founded: 2017 (major growth after 2020)
Founder: Bhavish Aggarwal
Industry: EV / CleanTech
What They Do: Electric scooters & EV ecosystem
Why It’s Big: Mass EV adoption in India
Impact: Reduced fuel dependency
Meesho
Founded: 2015 (explosive growth post-2019)
Founders: Vidit Aatrey, Sanjeev Barnwal
Industry: Social Commerce
What They Do: Enables reselling via WhatsApp & Instagram
Why It’s Big: Women-led micro-entrepreneurship
Impact: Empowered small sellers
Physics Wallah
Founded: 2020
Founder: Alakh Pandey
Industry: EdTech
What They Do: Affordable online education
Why It’s Big: First bootstrapped edtech unicorn
Impact: Democratized education
Ather Energy
Founded: 2013 (scaled post-2020)
Founders: Tarun Mehta, Swapnil Jain
Industry: EV
What They Do: Smart electric scooters
Why It’s Big: Premium EV tech
Impact: Advanced EV infrastructure
Licious
Founded: 2015
Founders: Abhay Hanjura, Vivek Gupta
Industry: FoodTech
What They Do: Fresh meat & seafood delivery
Why It’s Big: Organized meat supply chain
Impact: Hygiene & quality assurance
Porter
Founded: 2014 (major growth post-2019)
Founders: Pranav Goel, Vikas Choudhary, Uttam Digga
Industry: Logistics
What They Do: On-demand goods transport
Why It’s Big: MSME logistics backbone
Impact: Urban supply chain efficiency
Top 100 startup companies in India
Government Schemes Supporting Startups
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS)
Managed by SIDBI, this scheme does not invest directly in startups but through venture capital funds.
Scope of Work:
Provides capital to SEBI-registered VC funds
Encourages early-stage & growth-stage startups
Boosts innovation-led entrepreneurship
Stand-Up India Scheme
The Stand-Up India scheme focuses on women and SC/ST entrepreneurs.
Scope of Work:
Loans from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore
Manufacturing, services & trading sectors
Promotes first-time entrepreneurs
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
Launched by NITI Aayog, AIM promotes innovation at the grassroots level.
Scope of Work:
Atal Incubation Centers (AICs)
Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL)
Startup mentorship & R&D support
MSMEs Startup Support Schemes
Many startups fall under the MSME category, allowing them to access additional benefits.
Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGTMSE)
Collateral-free business loans
Subsidies & government tenders
Technology upgradation support
Key Benefits of Government Schemes for Indian Startups
Reducing Financial Risk for Startups
Government schemes help startups minimise early-stage financial risk by offering structured support, subsidies, and collateral-free funding options. This allows founders to focus on building and validating their business without excessive financial pressure.
Improving access to capital
Government schemes improve access to capital by connecting startups with funding options such as seed support, credit guarantees, and institutional financing channels. This enables founders to secure timely funds for growth, operations, and expansion without relying solely on private investment.
Supporting innovation & R&D
Government schemes encourage innovation and research by providing structured support for product development, technology upgrades, and experimentation. This helps startups invest in R&D, build differentiated solutions, and stay competitive in the market.
Encouraging inclusive entrepreneurship
Government schemes promote inclusive entrepreneurship by supporting women, first-time founders, and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. This ensures wider participation in the startup ecosystem and helps create balanced, sustainable economic growth.
Helping startups scale faster
By reducing operational hurdles and improving access to funding, mentorship, and market opportunities, government schemes help startups grow and expand more efficiently. This structured support enables businesses to scale faster while maintaining long-term sustainability.
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