Startup funding in India will soon reach far beyond the metros. PhysicsWallah's School of Startups (PW SoS) has partnered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under a two-year agreement to support 25,000 early-stage startups across India, the partnership announced on 28 October 2026.
Built for Tier-II, Tier-III and rural founders
The initiative focuses on entrepreneurs in Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural areas, offering training, mentorship, incubation, seed funding and investor access. Programmes include PW UDYAMI, a 90-day online course with one year of mentorship, and a six-month DeepTech Accelerator, alongside the Aarambh programme.
Early-stage innovators will also benefit from proof-of-concept opportunities, corporate pilots and seed investment through the annual National AI Startup Challenge & SeedX, as well as incubation support and seed grants at the Uttar Pradesh government-approved StartInUP Business Incubation Centre hosted by PW SoS.
Why this partnership matters now
"Supporting entrepreneurs beyond Tier-I cities is key to building a stronger startup ecosystem in India," said Ateesh Kumar Singh, additional secretary, DPIIT, adding that the partnership will help grassroots innovators access the resources, mentorship and infrastructure they need to turn ideas into scalable, job-creating businesses across Bharat.
Rounaq Mustafa, head of PW SoS, said the aim is to make knowledge, mentorship and funding accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs across Bharat, through PW UDYAMI, Aarambh and deep-tech acceleration programmes.
The tie-up comes as DPIIT reported it had recognised 2,50,046 startups across more than 770 districts, with 52% based in non-metro cities — a reminder that India's next wave of founders is increasingly coming from outside the big metros.
Why it matters for founders
If you are building outside a metro, this is your window: structured training, a deep-tech accelerator and seed routes are now bundled with DPIIT's national network. Apply to the programme that matches your stage — and use the mentorship year, not just the course.