Assam Start-up & Innovation Policy, 2025

The Assam Start-up & Innovation Policy 2025 ('Startup 2.0') succeeds the Assam Startup Policy 2017 (revised 2018) and aims to position Assam as a leading start-up hub. It fosters a culture of innovation, facilitates investment, and provides grants, reimbursements and ecosystem support to entrepreneurs across the State — with special emphasis on rural and underrepresented communities.

Vision: To transform Assam into a leading start-up hub, renowned for innovative solutions to global challenges, contributing to the State's economic development and job creation. Key objectives include:

• •Build infrastructure providing startups with workspace, mentorship and access to networks.
• •Simplify regulatory procedures and improve ease of doing business.
• •Facilitate access to finance through grants, seed capital and venture funding.
• •Foster partnerships between startups, academia, industry and government.
• •Support skill development and entrepreneurship training.
• •Establish Assam as a centre for social and technological innovation, and ensure inclusive growth across all districts.

An entity qualifies as a 'Startup' if it is DPIIT-recognised under Startup India, or meets all of the following criteria:

My Assam Start-up Id (MASI)

A unique ID granted to Assam-based startups recognised on the Assam Startup Portal and approved by the concerned authority. Incentives cannot be claimed until MASI has been issued.

Special Categories & Priority Sectors

Woman / ST / SC / Divyang Led Startup: ≥51% ownership and control at registration; ≥33% ownership after funding rounds; and ≥33% of Board votes held by the eligible group.

• •Priority Sectors: AgriTech, IT / ITES & AI, TravelTech, FoodTech, GreenTech & Sustainability.

All fiscal incentives require a valid MASI. The core grant ladder and reimbursements are:

Governance Bodies

• •High-Level Committee (HLC, 20 members): Chaired by the senior-most Secretary, IC&PE; approves fiscal incentives, approves new incubators, and approves funding for Zonal Innovation Hubs and Institutional Innovation Cells (meets at least once a year).
• •Policy Implementation Committee (PIC, 13 members): Chaired by the Commissioner of Industries & Commerce; recommends fiscal incentives to the HLC, issues MASI via a sub-committee, and monitors Assam Startup–The Nest (meets at least twice a year).

Incubation & Acceleration Network

• •Incentives cannot be claimed unless MASI has been issued and the startup complies with the conditions for each specific incentive.
• •Disbursement is on a first-come-first-serve basis, within the financial year's available budget.
• •The State Government may amend or withdraw any provision or incentive from time to time.
• •Interpretation of any clause rests finally with the IC&PE Department.
• •Disputes are resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; legal disputes fall under the jurisdiction of the Guwahati High Court.