State-wise Startups recognized by Startup India from 2016 to 2024

Maharashtra emerges as the undisputed leader with 27,925 recognised startups, establishing itself as India’s premier startup hub. This dominance likely stems from Mumbai’s status as the financial capital, Pune’s growing technology ecosystem, and the state’s well-developed industrial infrastructure. Maharashtra’s consistent year-on-year growth demonstrates a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem rather than a temporary surge. Karnataka follows closely with 16,625 recognised startups, powered primarily by Bengaluru’s reputation as India’s “Silicon Valley.” The state’s trajectory shows steady growth from just 67 startups in 2016 to over 3,173 by 2024, reflecting its mature startup ecosystem with established venture capital networks, technology talent pools, and supportive industry clusters. The slight growth deceleration in recent years may indicate ecosystem maturation rather than diminishing opportunities.

Delhi’s strong position with 16,082 startups reveals the capital region’s unique advantages – proximity to policymakers, excellent connectivity, and a diverse economy spanning services, technology, and manufacturing. The data shows Delhi experienced particularly strong growth between 2017 and 2023, though the marginal decline in 2024 might suggest some startups relocating to neighbouring regions like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, possibly due to cost considerations. Uttar Pradesh emerges as a surprise contender with 15,019 recognised startups, challenging the notion that entrepreneurship in India is limited to traditional metropolitan centres. This northern state’s impressive growth from just 28 startups in 2016 to 3,487 by 2024 represents one of the highest growth rates nationwide. Key factors likely include the development of Noida as a technology hub, government initiatives promoting entrepreneurship, and the state’s large youth population entering the workforce with entrepreneurial aspirations.

Gujarat’s strong showing with 13,052 startups reflects its long-standing business culture and entrepreneur-friendly policies. The state’s growth accelerated notably after 2020, with numbers nearly doubling between 2020 and 2022, suggesting recent policy initiatives have been particularly effective in stimulating new venture creation. Tamil Nadu (10,577 startups) demonstrates how industrial heritage can evolve into innovation ecosystems. The state’s consistent growth, particularly accelerating after 2021, reflects Chennai’s development as a manufacturing and SaaS hub, alongside emerging centers in Coimbatore and Madurai. The slight decline in 2024 may indicate market consolidation rather than ecosystem weakening.

The data reveals interesting patterns in historically less industrialised states. Rajasthan’s impressive growth to 5,566 startups shows how emerging ecosystems can develop with appropriate support. Similarly, Bihar’s remarkable progression from a single recognised startup in 2016 to 842 by 2024 reflects changing entrepreneurial dynamics in eastern India. These trends challenge traditional assumptions about which regions can develop vibrant startup ecosystems. The northeastern states show varied patterns. Assam leads with 1,487 startups, while states like Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram show more modest but steady growth. This regional variation likely reflects differences in infrastructure, connectivity, and support systems rather than entrepreneurial potential. Union Territories present an interesting contrast. Chandigarh has developed a respectable ecosystem with 532 startups, while newer territories like Ladakh are just beginning their entrepreneurial journey with 18 recognised startups. Island territories like Andaman & Nicobar (71 startups) and Lakshadweep (3 startups) face unique geographical challenges, but have still seen some startup activity.

Analysing year-over-year growth rates reveals how the ecosystem has evolved. The 2017-2019 period saw explosive growth across most states as the Startup India initiative gained traction. The 2020-2022 period showed continued strong growth despite pandemic challenges, suggesting the resilience of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The slight moderation in growth rates in 2023-2024 across several major states may indicate ecosystem maturation or reflect broader economic conditions. The data also reveals changing patterns of regional concentration. In 2016, the top three states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi) accounted for approximately 46% of all recognised startups. By 2024, while these states continue to lead, their combined share has decreased to approximately 36%, indicating more distributed growth across India’s entrepreneurial landscape.

What emerges from this comprehensive dataset is a picture of an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is becoming more geographically inclusive. While traditional centres of commerce and technology maintain their leadership, new entrepreneurial hubs are emerging across the country, driven by a combination of policy support, infrastructure development, digital connectivity, and changing cultural attitudes toward entrepreneurship. This geographic diversification suggests that India’s startup revolution is increasingly penetrating beyond metropolitan centres to unlock entrepreneurial potential across the nation’s diverse regions.