India startup data

Indian Startup Statistics 2026: 160+ Numbers on Funding, Unicorns, Jobs and Closures

By ClauseAudit Research · 164 statistics · 84 sources ·

What are the key Startup India statistics for 2026?

DPIIT had recognised 2,40,092 startups as on 30 June 2026, and they report 24.62 lakh direct jobs. Indian tech startups raised $10.5B in equity funding in 2025, 17% less than in 2024, per Tracxn. India has 125 unicorns on Tracxn's count, and 6,789 recognised startups were marked closed by January 2026.

A co-working space in India in morning light with laptops, a whiteboard of blurred sticky notes and printed agreements on a shared table
DPIIT-recognised startups in India, cumulative (As on 30 June 2026, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha)
2,40,092
Equity funding raised by Indian tech startups in 2025 (Tracxn) (2025 (1 Jan to 15 Dec), Tracxn Technologies Limited)
$10.5B
Indian unicorns counted by Tracxn, private and exited (As of FY 2025-26, Tracxn Technologies Limited)
125
Direct jobs reported by DPIIT-recognised startups (30 June 2026, Lok Sabha Secretariat (reply by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT))
24.62 lakh
Recognised startups categorised as closed in MCA records (As on 31 January 2026, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha)
6,789
Recognised startups with at least one woman director or partner (31 January 2026, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha)
1,02,054
Indian tech companies that went public in 2025 (2025, Tracxn Technologies Limited)
42
Funding raised by Indian deep tech startups in 2025 (2025, Nasscom and Zinnov)
$2.3 billion

This page collects more than 160 statistics on Indian startups in twelve groups: DPIIT recognition, funding, venture capital and private equity, unicorns, IPOs and exits, jobs, shutdowns, states and cities, women founders, deep tech and AI, sectors, and government schemes and patents.

Each figure links to its source. Official numbers come from Lok Sabha answers, PIB releases, SIDBI, SEBI and the PLFS, and market numbers come from trackers such as Tracxn, Inc42, Entrackr, Bain-IVCA and EY-IVCA, which count deals in different ways. The data was checked on 17 October 2026.

Startup India Statistics: How Many DPIIT-Recognised Startups Are There?

DPIIT recognition is the official count of startups in India and the gateway to tax and scheme benefits. The rules changed on 4 February 2026, when the turnover ceiling doubled to Rs 200 crore and a deep tech category was added.

Figure 1: Total DPIIT-recognised startups in India, October 2025 to June 2026

Figure 1: Total DPIIT-recognised startups in India, October 2025 to June 2026Oct 2025: 1,97,692; Jan 2026: 2,12,283; Mar 2026: 2.23 lakh+; Jun 2026: 2,40,0921,97,6922,12,2832.23 lakh+2,40,092Oct 2025Jan 2026Mar 2026Jun 2026
Chart data
LabelValue
Oct 20251,97,692
Jan 20262,12,283
Mar 20262.23 lakh+
Jun 20262,40,092
Cumulative counts at the dates given in Lok Sabha replies (31 Oct 2025, 31 Jan 2026, 30 Jun 2026). 2016 is 'approximately 500'; March 2026 is the rounded 'crossed 2.23 lakh' figure from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry release of 17 April 2026 (PIB). Intervals are uneven. Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4046: Startup Recognition (DPIIT reply); Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 441: Startup India Scheme (DPIIT reply); Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government recognizes more than 55,200 startups during FY 2025-26, highest ever in a single year since launch of Startup India initiative; Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3691: Registration of Startups (DPIIT reply).
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Indian Startup Funding Statistics 2025-2026

Funding fell in 2025 by value and by number of rounds, but the drop was uneven across stages. Trackers count rounds differently, so compare figures within one source.

Figure 2: Indian tech equity funding by stage, 2023 to 2025 (Tracxn)
Stage202320242025
Seed funding$1.4B$1.5B$1.1B
Early-stage funding (Series A, B)$3.5B$3.7B$3.9B
Late-stage funding (Series C+, PE, pre-IPO)$6.0B$7.5B$5.5B
Total equity funding$11.0B$12.7B$10.5B
Total rounds2,6402,4931,518

Venture Capital and Private Equity Investment in India Statistics

These figures look at the investor side: how much VC, growth equity and PE money went into India and how much new capital funds raised. Bain-IVCA, EY-IVCA and Venture Intelligence use different deal definitions, which explains the gaps between them.

Figure 3: India venture capital and growth-equity investment by year, 2022 to 2025 (Bain-IVCA) (USD billion)

Figure 3: India venture capital and growth-equity investment by year, 2022 to 2025 (Bain-IVCA)2022: $25.7B; 2023: $9.6B; 2024: $13.7B; 2025: ~$16B$25.7B$9.6B$13.7B~$16B2022202320242025
Chart data
LabelValue (USD billion)
2022$25.7B
2023$9.6B
2024$13.7B
2025~$16B
Values as printed in three editions of the Bain-IVCA India Venture Capital Report; the 2026 edition rounds 2024 to ~$14B and 2023 to ~$10B. EY-IVCA and Venture Intelligence use wider definitions and are not comparable. Source: Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2024; Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2025; Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2026.
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Indian Unicorn Statistics: Count, New Unicorns and Soonicorns

There is no single official unicorn count. Tracxn, Inc42 and Hurun each use their own rules and cut-off dates, so the numbers below are shown with their source.

Figure 4: How many unicorns does India have? Counts differ by tracker and date
TrackerUnicorn countAs ofWhat it covers
Tracxn (annual 2025 report)124 (96 private, 28 exited)15 Dec 2025Tech and non-tech unicorns, private and exited
Tracxn (FY 2025-26 report)125 (94 private, 31 exited)31 Mar 2026Tech and non-tech unicorns, private and exited
Inc42 unicorn tracker13315 Aug 2026Startups that have entered the $1B+ valuation club
Hurun Global Unicorn Index 202564 (ranked 3rd)Jun 2025Unicorns based in India on Hurun's list
Hurun Global Unicorn Index 202661 (ranked 4th)Jun 2026Unicorns based in India on Hurun's list; Indians co-founded 156 more abroad

Startup IPO and Exit Statistics in India

Listings and acquisitions are how founders, employees and investors turn shares into cash. These figures cover tech IPOs, acquisitions, listing timelines and recent issue sizes.

Figure 5: Indian tech IPOs and acquisitions by year, 2023 to H1 2026 (Tracxn)
PeriodIPOsAcquisitionsAvg. IPO market cap
202326153Not reported
202436127$578M
202542136$731M
H1 2026 (1 Jan to 24 Jun)1358$297M

Startup Jobs and Employment Statistics in India

Recognised startups report their direct jobs to DPIIT, and the government publishes the totals in Lok Sabha answers and PIB releases. Layoff counts come from Inc42's tracker.

Figure 6: Direct jobs reported by DPIIT-recognised startups, October 2024 to June 2026 (lakh) (lakh jobs)

Figure 6: Direct jobs reported by DPIIT-recognised startups, October 2024 to June 2026 (lakh)Oct 2024: 16.6 lakh+; Oct 2025: 21.11 lakh+; Jun 2026: 24.62 lakh+16.6 lakh+21.11 lakh+24.62 lakh+Oct 2024Oct 2025Jun 2026
Chart data
LabelValue (lakh jobs)
Oct 202416.6 lakh+
Oct 202521.11 lakh+
Jun 202624.62 lakh+
Cumulative self-reported direct jobs since 2016, from a PIB backgrounder and Lok Sabha replies by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Each figure is a lower bound ("over"). Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Nine Years of Startup India (backgrounder); Lok Sabha Secretariat (reply by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT), Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 37: DPIIT Recognized Startups; Lok Sabha Secretariat (reply by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT), Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3739: Job Creation in Manufacturing and Services Sectors.
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Startup Failure and Shutdown Statistics in India

Closure data comes from Ministry of Corporate Affairs records for recognised startups and from tracker counts of shut-down companies. Official figures count a startup as closed only once it is dissolved or struck off.

Figure 7: DPIIT-recognised startups closed (dissolved or struck off), top 10 states, October 2025

Figure 7: DPIIT-recognised startups closed (dissolved or struck off), top 10 states, October 2025: Maharashtra 1,200; Karnataka 845; Delhi 737; Uttar Pradesh 598; Telangana 368; Gujarat 348; Tamil Nadu 338; Haryana 306; Kerala 241; West Bengal 231Maharashtra1,200Karnataka845Delhi737Uttar Pradesh598Telangana368Gujarat348Tamil Nadu338Haryana306Kerala241West Bengal231
Chart data
LabelValue
Maharashtra1,200
Karnataka845
Delhi737
Uttar Pradesh598
Telangana368
Gujarat348
Tamil Nadu338
Haryana306
Kerala241
West Bengal231
Ministry of Corporate Affairs data shared on 11 November 2025 for startups recognised up to 31 October 2025; national total 6,385. The total reached 6,789 by 31 January 2026, but no newer state split was published. Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 441: Startup India Scheme (DPIIT reply).
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State-wise and City-wise Startup Statistics: Tier 2 and Tier 3 Growth

Funding is still concentrated in a few cities, while recognition numbers are spread more widely across states. State portal counters are included where they publish their own totals.

Figure 8: Top 10 Indian cities by tech startup funding, 2025 (USD billion)

Figure 8: Top 10 Indian cities by tech startup funding, 2025 (USD billion): Bengaluru $3.4B; Mumbai $1.8B; Delhi $1.5B; Gurugram $1.0B; Chennai $655M; Pune $516M; Thane $336M; Noida $309M; Hyderabad $218M; Ahmedabad $201MBengaluru$3.4BMumbai$1.8BDelhi$1.5BGurugram$1.0BChennai$655MPune$516MThane$336MNoida$309MHyderabad$218MAhmedabad$201M
Chart data
LabelValue
Bengaluru$3.4B
Mumbai$1.8B
Delhi$1.5B
Gurugram$1.0B
Chennai$655M
Pune$516M
Thane$336M
Noida$309M
Hyderabad$218M
Ahmedabad$201M
Tracxn equity funding by headquarters city, 1 January to 15 December 2025. Delhi, Gurugram and Noida are listed separately; together they form most of Delhi NCR. Source: Tracxn Technologies Limited, Tracxn Geo Annual Report: India Tech 2025.
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Women Entrepreneurs and Women-Led Startup Statistics in India

Official data counts startups with at least one woman director or partner, which is a broader measure than women-founded or women-led. Survey and labour data give wider context.

Figure 9: Startups with at least one woman director or partner recognised each year, 2017 to 2025

Figure 9: Startups with at least one woman director or partner recognised each year, 2017 to 20252017: 1,945; 2018: 4,165; 2019: 5,680; 2020: 6,670; 2021: 10,199; 2022: 12,868; 2023: 17,032; 2024: 17,414; 2025: 23,7181,9454,1655,6806,67010,19912,86817,03217,41423,718201720182019202020212022202320242025
Chart data
LabelValue
20171,945
20184,165
20195,680
20206,670
202110,199
202212,868
202317,032
202417,414
202523,718
Year of DPIIT recognition; Annexure-I of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 4037 (17 March 2026), data as on 31 January 2026. Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4037: Women Led Startups (DPIIT reply).
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Deep Tech and AI Startup Statistics in India

Deep tech, AI and spacetech drew a growing share of attention and money in 2025 and 2026. Government programmes such as the IndiaAI Mission add subsidised GPU access and support for sovereign foundation models.

Figure 10: India AI and deep tech: earlier vs latest period
MeasureEarlier periodLatest periodSource
AI startup equity fundingH1 2025: $162 Mn (30 deals)H1 2026: $676 Mn (57 deals)Inc42
Physical AI and robotics funding2025: $130 million (25 deals)2026 to 30 Jul: $155 million (31 deals)Entrackr
India AI funding (Zinnov, OpenAI, Z47)2024: $627M2025: about 2× 2024Zinnov
Space startups in IndiaAbout six years ago: single digitsJul 2026: more than 450IN-SPACe (via Telangana Today)

Sector-wise Startup Statistics: Fintech, SaaS, E-commerce and More

Sector rankings change by period and tracker. These figures cover full-year 2025 funding by sector, Q3 2026 sector rankings and operating numbers from large consumer, fintech and SaaS companies.

Figure 11: Indian startup funding by sector, Q3 2026 (USD million)

Figure 11: Indian startup funding by sector, Q3 2026 (USD million): AI $635.3M; EV $583M; Fintech $487.7M; E-commerce $222M; Deeptech $123M; Healthtech $103MAI$635.3MEV$583MFintech$487.7ME-commerce$222MDeeptech$123MHealthtech$103M
Chart data
LabelValue
AI$635.3M
EV$583M
Fintech$487.7M
E-commerce$222M
Deeptech$123M
Healthtech$103M
Entrackr sector tags for July to September 2026, when Indian startups raised about $2.9 billion in total. Sector definitions are Entrackr's and can overlap. Source: Entrackr, Indian startups raise $2.9 Bn in Q3 2026 as EV, AI drive funding.
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Startup India Scheme Statistics: Fund of Funds, Seed Fund, Credit Guarantee and Patents

Startup India runs several funding and credit schemes through SIDBI and incubators. These figures show how much has been committed and invested, alongside patent and innovation rankings.

Figure 12: Startup India scheme progress: October 2024 versus latest official figures
Scheme metricAs of 31 Oct 2024LatestLatest as of
Fund of Funds for Startups: capital committed to AIFs₹11,148 crore₹11,808 crore (153 AIFs)31 Mar 2026
FFS-backed AIFs: investment in startups₹21,221.36 crore in 1,165 startups₹25,859 crore31 Jan 2026
Seed Fund Scheme: startups selected by incubators2,4904,24530 Jun 2026
Seed Fund Scheme: funding approved to startups₹454.04 crore₹706.33 crore30 Jun 2026
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups: loans guaranteed₹555.24 crore (235 startups)₹925 crore31 Jan 2026

What the funding numbers mean for founders raising now

Money is still coming in, but it is going to fewer companies. Indian tech startups raised $10.5B in 2025, down 17%, while the number of funding rounds fell 39% to 1,518 and first-time funded companies fell 35% to 433, per Tracxn. Seed rounds took the biggest hit, down 30% to $1.1B. Early-stage Series A and B was the only stage to grow, up 7% to $3.9B.

For a founder, this means fewer term sheets and more negotiating power on the investor's side. When capital is scarce, investors ask for stronger protection: liquidation preferences that pay investors back more than they put in, broad anti-dilution, veto rights over budgets and hiring, and founder vesting that resets on a new round. These terms are easy to accept in a slow market and hard to undo later.

Read the term sheet as closely as the valuation. A higher headline price with a participating preference can leave founders with less in a mid-sized sale than a lower price with a simple, non-participating preference. Ask for a model of the payout at several exit values before you sign.

What closures and exits mean for startup employees

Recognised startups reported 24.62 lakh direct jobs as of 30 June 2026, up from 16.6 lakh in October 2024. Many of those jobs pay part of their value in ESOPs, and the exit data shows how long that value can take to arrive. Inc42 puts the median time to listing at 11 years, and Indian tech saw 42 IPOs and 136 acquisitions in 2025.

Closures are also part of the picture. 6,789 recognised startups were marked closed in MCA records by 31 January 2026, Tracxn lists 55,233 Indian tech companies as deadpooled, and Inc42 counted more than 9,500 people laid off by Indian startups in 2025. Of the 44 startups that cut staff that year, nearly 37% did so because they shut down.

If you are joining a startup, treat ESOPs as a long-dated option, not salary. Check the vesting schedule and cliff, how long you have to exercise after you leave, whether unvested options lapse on termination, and whether notice, non-compete or bond clauses would apply if the company closes or is sold.

What to check before signing with a startup as a vendor or freelancer

  • Payment terms and security. Funding rounds fell 39% in 2025, so a client's next round is not guaranteed. Ask for milestone payments or an advance, and a clause that lets you pause work when invoices are overdue.
  • IP ownership. Investors check that the company owns its code and brand during due diligence. If you are building for a startup, agree in writing what transfers, when it transfers and whether it waits for full payment.
  • Exit and assignment. With 136 acquisitions in 2025, your contract may move to a buyer. Check whether it can be assigned without your consent and what happens to unpaid fees if the client is acquired or shuts down.
  • Scheme-linked work. More than 34,400 recognised startups were on GeM by October 2025. If a project depends on a government order or grant, tie your payment dates to dates you can verify.

Check your term sheet, shareholders' agreement or ESOP letter

The numbers on this page show a funding market where investors pick fewer companies and set tighter terms, and where exits can take many years. An automated review of your founder, investor or ESOP documents flags the clauses that decide who gets paid, who has control and what happens if the company is sold or closes, and explains each one in plain English.

  • Liquidation preference multiple and whether it is participating
  • Anti-dilution protection and how it is calculated
  • Investor veto rights over budgets, hiring and future rounds
  • Founder vesting, cliff and what happens to unvested shares if you leave
  • Drag-along, tag-along and right of first refusal on share transfers
  • ESOP exercise window after leaving and treatment on a sale
  • IP assignment from founders, employees and contractors to the company
  • Non-compete, non-solicit and dispute resolution clauses
Review a founder or investor agreement

Frequently asked questions

How many startups are there in India in 2026?

DPIIT had recognised 2,40,092 entities as startups as on 30 June 2026, the latest figure given to Parliament. That includes 16,334 recognised between 1 April and 30 June 2026. Tracxn, which counts more widely, tracks 180,227 Indian tech companies, of which 18,044 have raised funding.

How much funding did Indian startups raise in 2025?

Indian tech startups raised $10.5B in equity funding in 2025, a 17% drop from $12.7B in 2024, according to Tracxn. Funding rounds fell 39% to 1,518. In the first half of 2026 they raised $7.2B across 652 rounds, with capital up 12% year on year.

How many unicorns does India have?

It depends on the tracker. Tracxn counts 125 Indian unicorns as of FY 2025-26, 94 private and 31 exited. Inc42's tracker counts 133 as of 15 August 2026, and the Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2026 lists 61 based in India.

How many jobs have Indian startups created?

DPIIT-recognised startups had reported over 24.62 lakh direct jobs across more than 55 industries as of 30 June 2026, up from 21.11 lakh in October 2025 and 16.6 lakh in October 2024.

How many Indian startups have shut down?

As on 31 January 2026, 6,789 DPIIT-recognised startups were categorised as closed, meaning dissolved or struck off, in MCA records, out of 2,12,283 recognised. Tracxn marks 55,233 Indian tech companies as deadpooled across its all-time database.

How many Indian startups have a woman director?

As of 31 January 2026, 1,02,054 of 2,12,283 DPIIT-recognised startups, about 48%, had at least one woman director or partner. In calendar 2025, 23,718 such startups were recognised, up from 17,414 in 2024.

How many Indian tech startups went public in 2025?

42 Indian tech companies went public in 2025, up 17% from 36 in 2024, according to Tracxn. Their average market cap at IPO was $731M. Inc42 puts the median time for an Indian startup to list at 11 years.

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Indian Startup Statistics 2026: 160+ Numbers on Funding, Unicorns, Jobs and Closures: the numbersStat cardsKey findings: Indian Startup Statistics 2026: 160+ Numbers on Funding, Unicorns, Jobs and ClosuresKey findings cardInfographic: Indian Startup Statistics 2026: 160+ Numbers on Funding, Unicorns, Jobs and ClosuresInfographicTotal DPIIT-recognised startups in India, October 2025 to June 2026Total DPIIT-recognised startups in India, October 2025 to June 2026DPIIT-recognised startups closed (dissolved or struck off), top 10 states, October 2025DPIIT-recognised startups closed (dissolved or struck off), top 10 states, October 2025Top 10 Indian cities by tech startup funding, 2025 (USD billion)Top 10 Indian cities by tech startup funding, 2025 (USD billion)Indian startup funding by sector, Q3 2026 (USD million)Indian startup funding by sector, Q3 2026 (USD million)India venture capital and growth-equity investment by year, 2022 to 2025 (Bain-IVCA) (USD billion)India venture capital and growth-equity investment by year, 2022 to 2025 (Bain-IVCA) (USD billion)Direct jobs reported by DPIIT-recognised startups, October 2024 to June 2026 (lakh) (lakh jobs)Direct jobs reported by DPIIT-recognised startups, October 2024 to June 2026 (lakh) (lakh jobs)Startups with at least one woman director or partner recognised each year, 2017 to 2025Startups with at least one woman director or partner recognised each year, 2017 to 2025How many unicorns does India have? Counts differ by tracker and dateHow many unicorns does India have? Counts differ by tracker and dateIndia AI and deep tech: earlier vs latest periodIndia AI and deep tech: earlier vs latest periodIndian tech equity funding by stage, 2023 to 2025 (Tracxn)Indian tech equity funding by stage, 2023 to 2025 (Tracxn)Indian tech IPOs and acquisitions by year, 2023 to H1 2026 (Tracxn)Indian tech IPOs and acquisitions by year, 2023 to H1 2026 (Tracxn)Startup India scheme progress: October 2024 versus latest official figuresStartup India scheme progress: October 2024 versus latest official figures

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Indian Startup Statistics 2026: 160+ Numbers on Funding, Unicorns, Jobs and Closures
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Sources and method

Every number on this page comes from the sources below, each opened and read on or before October 17, 2026. A second, independent review checked every figure against its source and corrected anything that did not match. Figures that could not be confirmed were left out.

  1. Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3691: Registration of Startups (DPIIT reply) (11 August 2026)
  2. Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4046: Startup Recognition (DPIIT reply) (17 March 2026)
  3. Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 441: Startup India Scheme (DPIIT reply) (2 December 2025)
  4. Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT), Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4037: Women Led Startups (DPIIT reply) (17 March 2026)
  5. Tracxn Technologies Limited, Tracxn Geo Annual Report: India Tech 2025 (2025 edition (data 1 Jan to 15 Dec 2025))
  6. Tracxn Technologies Limited, Tracxn Geo Annual Report: India Tech FY 2025-26 (FY 2025-26 edition (data 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026))
  7. Tracxn Technologies Limited, India Tech H1 2026 Geo Semi Annual Report (25 June 2026 (data 1 Jan to 24 Jun 2026))
  8. Inc42, Indian Unicorn Tracker: Funding, Investors, Revenue and More (Last updated 15 August 2026)
  9. Inc42, Indian Soonicorn Tracker: List of India's Unicorns of Tomorrow (Last updated 8 September 2026)
  10. Inc42, Indian AI Startup Funding Soars Over 4X YoY In H1 2026 (3 July 2026)
  11. Inc42, 25 Indian Startups That Shut Down in 2025 (23 December 2025)
  12. Hurun Research Institute, Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2026 (25 June 2026 (cut-off 1 January 2026))
  13. Hurun Research Institute, Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2025 (26 June 2025)
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  17. Entrackr, Indian Physical AI attracts $155 Mn in 2026 as robotics, real-world data gain traction (30 July 2026)
  18. Entrackr, Exclusive: DealShare in talks for acquisition as it stares at shutdown (25 August 2026)
  19. Entrackr, Emergent becomes third AI unicorn of 2026 with $130 Mn Series C led by Creaegis (15 July 2026)
  20. Forbes India, Is Skyroot's unicorn milestone Indian space tech's coming-of-age moment? (14 May 2026)
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  26. MediaNama, Sarvam raises $234 million, becomes AI unicorn (16 June 2026)
  27. People Matters, RMG ban claims more jobs as Zupee lays off 170 employees (11 September 2025)
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  29. DealStreetAsia, India Deal Review: Q1 2026 (23 April 2026)
  30. DealStreetAsia, India Deal Review: Q2 2026 (30 July 2026)
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  35. Redseer Strategy Consultants, Think Quick Commerce: Unlocking the $90Bn Opportunity (developed in collaboration with Google) (7 October 2026)
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  37. Swiggy Limited, Swiggy Q1 FY27 results press release (30 July 2026)
  38. Urban Company Limited, Urban Company Q2 FY27 results press release (16 October 2026)
  39. One 97 Communications Limited (Paytm), Paytm Q1 FY 2027 complete disclosures (earnings data pack) (Q1 FY 2027 (quarter ended 30 June 2026))
  40. Eternal Limited, Blinkit business page (Undated page, accessed 17 October 2026)
  41. Startup Genome, Bengaluru ecosystem page (Accessed 18 October 2026 (ecosystem value covers H2 2023 to 2025))
  42. Startup Genome, The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026: Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2026 (Top 40) (2026 edition)
  43. Startup Genome, The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026: Emerging Ecosystems Ranking 2026 (Top 100) (2026 edition)
  44. Government of Uttar Pradesh (StartInUP), StartInUP portal home page (Live counter, accessed 17 October 2026)
  45. Government of Madhya Pradesh, Startup Madhya Pradesh portal home page (Live counter, accessed 17 October 2026)
  46. Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2026 (2026 edition (data for calendar 2025))
  47. Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2026 (full report PDF) (2026 edition (data for calendar 2025))
  48. Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2025 (2025 edition (data for calendar 2024))
  49. Bain & Company and IVCA, India Venture Capital Report 2024 (2024 edition (data for calendar 2023))
  50. Bain & Company and IVCA, India Private Equity Report 2026 (2026 edition (data for calendar 2025))
  51. EY India and IVCA, India's PE/VC industry staying on the front foot despite global headwinds: EY-IVCA Trendbook 2026 (March 2026)
  52. EY India and IVCA, PE/VC investments in India reach US$20.5 billion across 604 deals in 1H2026 (July 2026)
  53. Venture Intelligence, At $33-B, PE-VC investments in 2025 end flat compared to 2024 (31 December 2025)
  54. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Alternative Investment Funds: cumulative net figures (quarter ending 30 June 2026) (Quarter ending 30 June 2026)
  55. Crunchbase News, Asia startup funding in Q3 2026 (Q3 2026 edition)
  56. Lok Sabha Secretariat (reply by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT), Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3739: Job Creation in Manufacturing and Services Sectors (11 August 2026 (data as on 30 June 2026))
  57. Lok Sabha Secretariat (reply by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT), Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 37: DPIIT Recognized Startups (2 December 2025 (data as on 31 October 2025))
  58. Lok Sabha Secretariat (reply by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT), Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1446: Startup India Initiative (28 July 2026 (data as on 30 June 2026))
  59. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Nine Years of Startup India (backgrounder) (15 January 2025 (data as on 31 October 2024))
  60. Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Empowered Youth, Stronger Nation: India's Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047 (backgrounder) (13 June 2026)
  61. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, A Decade of Growth with PM Mudra Yojana (backgrounder) (7 April 2025)
  62. SIDBI Venture Capital Limited, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) (Status as on 31 March 2026)
  63. SIDBI Venture Capital Limited, Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Page last updated 23 September 2026)
  64. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, BIRAC impact dashboard (homepage) (Page dated 1 October 2026)
  65. iDEX, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) homepage (Page last updated 18 October 2026)
  66. Inc42, A year of pink slips: 9,500+ layoffs among Indian startups in 2025 (6 December 2025)
  67. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025: press note (March 2026 (calendar 2025 data))
  68. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Intellectual property statistical country profile 2024: India (2024 profile (published June 2026))
  69. World Bank (Enterprise Surveys, World Development Indicators), Firms with female participation in ownership (% of firms), India (IC.FRM.FEMO.ZS) (Last updated 8 October 2026 (2025 survey))
  70. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Global Entrepreneurship Monitor economy profile: India (Most recent data: 2025)
  71. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Vikram-I: first private orbital launch lifts off from Sriharikota (July 2026)
  72. Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-I launch vehicle (Accessed October 2026)
  73. Freshworks Inc. via U.S. SEC EDGAR, Freshworks Q2 2026 financial results (Form 8-K exhibit) (August 4, 2026)
  74. PhonePe, PhonePe announces rural merchant expansion plans (September 24, 2026)
  75. Razorpay, Razorpay launches Vulcan, India's first AI payments foundation model (August 18, 2026)
  76. Kerala Startup Mission (Government of Kerala), About Kerala Startup Mission (Accessed October 2026)
  77. TechCrunch, Adobe acquires Indian market intelligence startup Rilo (September 2, 2026)
  78. Le Travenues Technology Ltd (ixigo), ixigo Q2 FY27 earnings media release (Q2 FY27 (2026))
  79. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government recognizes more than 55,200 startups during FY 2025-26, highest ever in a single year since launch of Startup India initiative (17 April 2026)
  80. Bain & Company, How India Shops Online 2026 (8 April 2026)
  81. Nasscom, India Generative AI Startup Landscape 2025: Mapping the Momentum (2025)
  82. World Bank, World Bank WDI: New businesses registered (number), India (IC.BUS.NREG) (Last updated 8 October 2026 (data for 2024))
  83. World Bank, World Bank WDI: New business density, India (IC.BUS.NDNS.ZS) (Last updated 8 October 2026 (data for 2024))
  84. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), India ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2025 (2025)

Cite this page

ClauseAudit, “Indian Startup Statistics 2026: 160+ Numbers on Funding, Unicorns, Jobs and Closures”, updated October 17, 2026, https://clauseaudit.com/in/data/indian-startup-statistics. Free to reuse with a link back (CC BY 4.0).

This page summarises published data and law as checked on October 17, 2026. Figures are updated as new editions are released, and your own situation may differ. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.