Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Tuesday said that the State has made significant strides in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, emerging as the seventh-largest state in the country in terms of the number of startups recognised with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). With over 8,800 DPI IT-recognised startups, the state reflects a vibrant and growing startup ecosystem that is contributing to economic diversification and job creation, he added.
Presiding over a review meeting of the State Startup Ecosystem and Incubator Schemes, Rastogi said that a particularly encouraging aspect of this growth is the strong presence of women entrepreneurs—more than 45 percent of the startups in Haryana are led by women. The high percentage of women-led startups indicates Haryana’s increasing focus on inclusive development and gender equality in the innovation landscape.
He said that Haryana's role in the country’s unicorn story is also remarkable. Out of the 117 unicorns in India, 19 have their origins in Haryana. This underlines the state’s robust business environment, easy access to skilled manpower, and growing investor interest. These factors are positioning Haryana as a key contributor to the national economy through innovation-led growth.
The state has also built a strong incubation infrastructure to support startups at various stages. More than 25 incubators have been established in government and private universities across the state. Additionally, over 10 private-sector-run incubators and 10 government-supported incubators are currently operational, offering a wide range of services including mentorship, networking opportunities and infrastructural support. Moreover, several institutions have expressed interest in setting up new incubation centers, which will further strengthen the support system for early-stage startups.