Indian startup revolution is not limited to Mumbai, Bengaluru, or Delhi anymore. The true wave of starting up is making a rise in tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where entrepreneurship founders are creating companies specific to localized problems and yet with a pan country impact. Better connectivity, government programs, and recognition from investors are converting small cities into fertile ground for new ventures.
One of the propelling agents behind this ecosystem is the Government of India’s initiative Startup India which provides mentorship, tax benefits, and funding facilitation to entrepreneurs spread across the country, and increasingly beyond metros. Growing number of entrepreneurs in small and medium towns like Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, and Coimbatore are taking advantage of these resources and building a scalable business. For instance, the Atal Innovation Mission has been instrumental in setting up the Atal Incubation Centers across small towns, giving local innovators the infrastructure and mentorship that they need to develop and deploy their ideas.
Success stories are emerging from every nook and corner of non-urban India. In Bhubaneswar, a healthcare technology firm offers low-cost telemedicine facility for rural markets. In Surat, a textile venture modernizes obsolete looms with high tech. In Lucknow, educational technology portals started by young degree recipients are helping Hindi belt students in preparation for competitive tests. They show that innovation and greatness are neither confined to metros nor limited anywhere but are flourishing where there are opportunities.
Institutions like the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Development Institute are also playing their part in nurturing startups by giving funding and skill development programs. State governments have also started their respective startup policies, for instance, Startup Odisha, that have encouraged homegrown founders to set up companies in their hometowns and cities rather than moving on to bigger cities.
The arrival of co-working spaces, digital marketing, and e-commerce portals have helped entrepreneurs at Tier 2 and Tier 3 levels reach out to larger markets. The hitherto ‘lack of accessibility’ has been countered by digital tools and online networks. The paradigm shift is redefining the business ecosystem while generating jobs and strengthening local economies.
The rise of non-metro startup ecosystems is a validation that innovation has no boundaries. Through propagation of such stories and nurturing such entrepreneurs with the right policy, technology, and societal support, India would be able to tap its entrepreneurial spirit’s maximum potential beyond the metro cities.