Recognised Startups by Region in India from 2016 to 2024

The North region has emerged as the leader in India’s startup world with 50,000 recognised startups in 2024, showing remarkable growth from just 100 startups in 2016. This region, comprising states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, has consistently maintained its leading position throughout the eight-year period, benefiting from strong policy support, established infrastructure, and proximity to government and financial institutions in the national capital region. The South region follows closely with 44,500 startups in 2024, reflecting the powerful entrepreneurial ecosystems centred around Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. This region’s impressive growth from 100 startups in 2016 demonstrates how its strong technical talent pool, coupled with established IT infrastructure and venture capital presence, has fostered innovation and entrepreneurship at scale. The slightly slower growth compared to the North region may reflect the South’s more concentrated focus on technology sectors rather than the broader sectoral diversity seen in the North.

The West region, encompassing entrepreneurial powerhouses like Maharashtra and Gujarat, stands strong with 41,600 startups in 2024. This region’s consistent growth trajectory from 100 startups in 2016 reflects Mumbai’s financial strength, Pune’s technical expertise, and Gujarat’s business-friendly policies. The data suggests that while the West started on par with the North and South in 2016, its relative growth rate, though substantial, has been slightly lower than its counterparts. The East region has shown impressive growth despite starting from a lower base, reaching 12,600 startups in 2024 from just 10 in 2016. This 1,260-fold increase reflects how states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar have made concerted efforts to develop their startup ecosystems despite historically having less developed entrepreneurial infrastructure. The acceleration in growth, particularly after 2020, suggests that policy interventions in these states may be bearing fruit.

The Central region, which includes states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, shows modest but steady growth, reaching 5,100 startups by 2023 (with 2024 data missing from the table). Starting from just 10 recognised startups in 2016, this 510-fold increase demonstrates how entrepreneurship is taking root even in regions traditionally not associated with innovation economies. This growth, while slower than other regions in absolute terms, represents significant progress relative to the starting point. The Northeast region shows the lowest absolute numbers but impressive relative growth, expanding from just 10 recognised startups in 2016 to 2,000 by 2024. This 200-fold increase reflects how entrepreneurship is gradually establishing itself in a region that has historically faced challenges related to connectivity, investment access, and market reach. The accelerating growth, particularly after 2020, suggests that focused development initiatives for this region may be yielding results.

The data reveals interesting patterns in regional disparities and convergence. In 2016, all regions started with relatively minimal numbers of recognised startups, suggesting a level playing field at the initiative’s inception. By 2024, significant disparities have emerged, with the North, South, and West regions collectively accounting for approximately 86% of all recognised startups, while the Central, East, and Northeast regions together represent just 14%. However, examining growth rates rather than absolute numbers reveals a more nuanced picture. The East region, for instance, has shown a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 133% between 2016-2024, outpacing some of the more established regions. This suggests a possible convergence over time as entrepreneurial ecosystems develop in previously underrepresented regions. The year-on-year acceleration across all regions demonstrates the expanding footprint of India’s startup movement. Each region shows consistently higher absolute additions each year compared to the previous one, with particularly strong acceleration observed during the 2020-2022 period despite pandemic challenges. This nationwide momentum suggests that entrepreneurship is becoming embedded in India’s economic fabric across its diverse geography, though at varying intensities and with regional specialisations likely emerging based on local strengths and opportunities.