PhysicsWallah’s School of Startups (PW SoS) has partnered with Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to support early-stage entrepreneurs across India. The two-year collaboration aims to reach 25,000 startups, with a focus on founders from Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural areas.
The initiative will provide structured training, mentorship, product prototyping guidance, incubation facilities, investor connections and access to early-stage seed capital. It aims to expand opportunities for grassroots entrepreneurs and strengthen India’s startup ecosystem beyond major metropolitan centres.
Multiple Programmes for Startup Founders
PW School of Startups will introduce several programmes to support entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey.
- PW UDYAMI: A 90-day live online training programme followed by one year of mentorship for founders from small towns and rural areas.
- Aarambh Immersion: A five-day residential programme focused on prototype development, pitch preparation and networking.
- Growth Stage CEO Program: Designed to support 200 DPIIT-recognised startups through four hybrid cohorts and prepare them for growth-stage funding.
- PW DeepTech Accelerator: A six-month programme offering selected high-potential ventures access to growth and funding opportunities.
Seed Funding and Incubation Support
Early-stage innovators will also receive opportunities for proof-of-concept development, corporate pilots and seed investment through the annual National AI Startup Challenge and SeedX programmes.
The partnership will further provide access to incubation support and seed grants through the StartInUP Business Incubation Centre hosted by PW School of Startups. The institution is an accredited incubator under the Uttar Pradesh government’s StartInUP initiative.
Focus on Grassroots Entrepreneurship
Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary at DPIIT, said expanding support beyond Tier-I cities is important for building a stronger startup ecosystem. The partnership is expected to help grassroots innovators access the resources, infrastructure and mentorship needed to develop scalable businesses and create jobs.
Rounaq Mustafa, Head of PW School of Startups, said the initiative aims to make entrepreneurial knowledge, mentorship and funding more accessible to founders across the country.
The collaboration reflects a broader push to expand India’s startup ecosystem into smaller cities and rural regions, where aspiring entrepreneurs often face challenges in accessing funding, industry networks and incubation facilities.
