Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday, October 2, launched a three-month statewide entrepreneurship programme aimed at identifying, nurturing and accelerating entrepreneurial talent across all 23 districts of the state.
Named ‘Startup Haryana Seva Sankalp – Vichaar Se Vistaar Tak’, the initiative was launched at Kurukshetra University under the Department of Industries and Commerce.
The programme aims to connect more than three lakh aspiring entrepreneurs and startups with mentorship, grants, investors and government support. It will also identify 50 high-potential finalists and recognise the top 10 participants.
Programme to Expand Entrepreneurship Beyond Major Cities
A key objective of the initiative is to take entrepreneurship beyond established startup hubs such as Gurugram and Faridabad.
The state government intends to encourage innovation in smaller towns, educational institutions and districts across southern, western and other parts of Haryana.
Through district-level outreach and structured training, the programme seeks to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide opportunities to young innovators irrespective of their location.
The initiative is designed to guide participants from the initial idea stage to mentorship, investment opportunities and business development.
Six-Stage Journey from Ideas to Investors
The programme will follow a structured six-stage process covering outreach, district ideathons, masterclasses, mentorship, divisional competitions and a grand finale.
District-level ideathons will be organised across all 23 districts, where participants will present their business ideas through 60-second pitches.
Around 3,450 participants are expected to take part in these events. Approximately 1,150 participants will then progress to a seven-module masterclass covering important aspects of entrepreneurship, including business planning, financial management and pitching.
Around 350 teams will subsequently receive one-to-one mentorship and compete in pitch events across Haryana’s four divisions.
The process will culminate in the selection of 50 finalists.
Top 10 Participants to Receive Awards
The programme will have two separate tracks to support different categories of participants.
The first track will focus on registered, growth-stage startups seeking investment, while the second will support aspiring entrepreneurs, students and grassroots innovators through a grant-based pathway.
The top five startups in the first track will receive awards of ₹15 lakh, ₹12 lakh, ₹10 lakh, ₹7.5 lakh and ₹5 lakh, respectively.
In the second track, the top five aspiring entrepreneurs will receive ₹5 lakh, ₹4 lakh, ₹3 lakh, ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh, respectively.
Selected participants will also receive opportunities for seed funding consideration, incubation support, cloud credits and industry connections.
New Incubators and Industry Partnerships Announced
During the launch event, Saini handed over Letters of Intent to two incubators for establishing new incubation facilities in Haryana.
The state government also signed agreements with Zoho Corporation and Paytm Payments to strengthen the startup and innovation ecosystem.
Additionally, cheques were distributed to 11 startups that received seed funding under the Haryana State Startup Policy, 2022.
These measures are intended to provide financial assistance and institutional support to emerging businesses.
Government Focuses on Grassroots Innovation
The programme is part of the broader Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and aims to encourage young people to develop solutions addressing everyday challenges.
The government plans to connect promising ideas with mentors, investors, academic institutions and the wider startup ecosystem.
The initiative also seeks to create a continuous pathway for entrepreneurs to access government schemes and business development opportunities.
Haryana Aims to Strengthen Startup Ecosystem
With the launch of Startup Haryana Seva Sankalp, the state government is expanding its efforts to promote entrepreneurship beyond major urban centres.
The three-month programme will focus on identifying innovative ideas, building entrepreneurial skills and connecting participants with financial and institutional support.
By covering all 23 districts, the initiative aims to provide a structured platform for students, startups and grassroots innovators to transform their ideas into enterprises.