The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) took part in a virtual interaction under the FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation and Business Ideas Challenge Programme. Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the Challenge Programme was launched to identify and support high-potential Indian startups developing innovative and scalable solutions across key sectors, including manufacturing, sustainability, education, decarbonization and automotive or EVs.
Addressing the participants, Additional Secretary of DPIIT, Ateesh Kumar Singh said that the initiative reflects the growing strength of India’s innovation ecosystem and the immense potential of the country’s young entrepreneurs. Mr Singh noted that by providing timely mentorship and support, the programme empowers innovators to develop solutions aligned with national priorities. He added that such collaborative efforts are essential for driving innovation-led growth and strengthening India’s position as a global innovation leader.
Under this framework, the selected startups will receive specialised mentoring on regulatory and legal compliance, taxation and fund utilisation, fundraising strategy, valuation fundamentals, term sheet negotiations, data privacy, cybersecurity and intellectual property protection. The interaction highlighted the importance of structured ecosystem support, mentorship and industry collaboration in enabling startups to move beyond early-stage innovation and build globally competitive enterprises.
