UP Govt Commits ₹140 Crore to Fuel Startups and Innovation Ecosystem

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has stepped up efforts to drive entrepreneurship by injecting almost ₹140 crore into its startup ecosystem. With more than 17,000 active startups, UP is now counted among India’s top-performing states in innovation and enterprise growth. 

This investment is aimed at nurturing youth-led businesses, expanding support infrastructure, and positioning the state as a global hub for technology and innovation.

Startup Ecosystem and Government Initiatives

The state currently hosts a strong network of 72 incubators and seven centres of excellence (CoE) designed to cultivate business ideas, support entrepreneurs, and create employment opportunities. 

As per the news reports, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised that the focus should be on turning young people into job creators rather than job seekers. He described UP’s progress as a step toward building an Atmanirbhar Bharat, while highlighting the transition of research from “lab to land” and “lab to industry”. 

At the Startup Conclave 2025 in Lucknow, he remarked that this spirit of collaboration would connect startups directly with markets.

ODOP Scheme and Private Partnerships

Launched in 2018, the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme has become a cornerstone of UP’s efforts to promote traditional industries through technology, design, and modern packaging. To accelerate its reach, Flipkart has partnered with the state to promote products such as Khadi, leather goods, carpets, agricultural produce, and pottery. 

As per the news reports, Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart, stated that the company is also training micro-entrepreneurs, artisans, women self-help groups, and startups to expand their ventures by leveraging digital platforms.

Investment Climate and Research Focus 

The state government is presenting UP as a preferred investment destination and a frontrunner in the ease of doing business rankings. Proactive policies are being framed to guide entrepreneurs and researchers in scaling up innovations into market-ready products. Stressing the role of research in industrial growth, CM Adityanath asserted: “Every research should become a product; every product an industry; and every industry the strength of India. This is the mantra of a developed India.”

Spread of Startups and Success Stories 

While major cities like Noida, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, and Kanpur lead in registrations, smaller towns now account for around 35% of UP’s total startups. The state has also produced several high-profile ventures and unicorns, including Pine Labs, Spice Money Ltd, Paytm Payments Bank, Advisorymandi, OneCode, Wishfin, GramCover, Marquee Equity, Buddy4Study, IndiaMart, Info Edge, and PhysicsWallah. These names reflect the breadth of UP’s entrepreneurial talent, spanning fintech, education, technology, and manufacturing.

Read More: Delhi Govt to Pay ₹140 Crore in EV Subsidies Following High Court Order!

Conclusion

Through substantial financial support, strategic policies, and initiatives like ODOP, Uttar Pradesh is creating a thriving ecosystem for startups. The partnership with private players such as Flipkart and the government’s focus on both large cities and smaller towns underline its ambition to become a global technology and innovation hub. 

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