PhysicsWallah partners with DPIIT to support 25,000 early-stage startups across India
The two-year partnership will deliver seed capital, mentorship, and incubation to founders across smaller cities and rural Bharat.
Expanding India's startup ecosystem beyond major hubs
PhysicsWallah’s School of Startups has entered into a two-year strategic partnership with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to accelerate 25,000 early-stage startups across India.
The collaboration focuses on extending the national entrepreneurial ecosystem into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, as well as rural areas. Operating under the central government’s Startup India initiative, the joint programme combines structured online and residential training, product prototyping guidance, incubation infrastructure, investor access, and early-stage seed capital for emerging founders.
Structured support for early-stage founders
To address ventures at different growth phases, the partnership introduces specialised programmes designed for grassroots innovators, deep-tech pioneers, and scaling companies.
| Initiative | Duration | Target Audience | Key Support Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| PW Udyami | 90 days | Small-town & rural entrepreneurs | Live online training and one year of mentorship |
| Aarambh Immersion | 5 days | Early-stage founders | Prototype development, pitch preparation and networking |
| Growth Stage CEO Program | Not disclosed | 200 DPIIT-recognised startups | Scaling guidance and funding preparation across 4 hybrid cohorts |
| PW DeepTech Accelerator | 6 months | High-potential tech ventures | Rapid commercialisation support and venture capital access |
Early-stage innovators will also gain proof-of-concept opportunities, corporate pilot runs, and seed capital through an annual National AI Startup Challenge & SeedX. In addition, physical incubation and seed grants will be routed through the UP Government-approved StartinUP Business Incubation Centre hosted by PW School of Startups.
Government and private sector synergy
The initiative underlines growing public-private coordination aimed at strengthening regional economic stability and generating employment across non-metropolitan hubs.
"Supporting entrepreneurs beyond Tier-I cities is key to building a stronger startup ecosystem in India," said Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary at DPIIT. He stated that the partnership will help grassroots innovators access the resources, mentorship, and infrastructure required to build scalable, job-creating businesses across the country.
Rounaq Mustafa, Head of PW School of Startups, emphasised that the project aims to make knowledge and capital universally accessible across Bharat. By pairing PhysicsWallah's educational outreach with Startup India's nationwide network, the initiative seeks to establish sustainable regional innovation hubs.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Startups Targeted | 25,000 early-stage ventures | DPIIT and PhysicsWallah School of Startups partnership announcement |
| Partnership Duration | 2 years | DPIIT and PhysicsWallah School of Startups MoU |
| Growth Stage CEO Cohort Size | 200 DPIIT-recognised startups | PW School of Startups initiative details |
| PW Udyami Training Length | 90 days live online training plus 1 year mentorship | PW School of Startups programme specification |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Startup India | Flagship government initiative facilitating the two-year startup acceleration partnership. |
| Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade | Nodal authority under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry partnering with PW School of Startups. |
| PhysicsWallah School of Startups | Entrepreneurship wing of PhysicsWallah partnering with DPIIT to support early-stage startups. |
