Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Policy 2025

1. Introduction

India has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, demonstrating rapid growth in innovation and entrepreneurship. Building on the momentum of the 2018 policy, the Maharashtra Startup Policy 2025 aims to reinforce the state's leadership in this dynamic landscape. As of 31st May 2025, Maharashtra is home to 29,147 Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-recognized startups, accounting for 18% of India's total — the highest in the country.

Maharashtra stands out as a powerhouse of innovation, driven by supportive government policies, robust infrastructure, and an active network of stakeholders. This policy provides a futuristic framework focused on scaling funding access, enhancing infrastructure, and offering systemic support to consolidate Maharashtra's position as a resilient, inclusive, and execution-driven startup ecosystem.

With its unmatched concentration of talent, resources, and entrepreneurial energy, Maharashtra aims to play a leading role in helping India become the global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. The state is poised to attract significant foreign investment in transformative technologies and business models. This policy reaffirms Maharashtra's commitment to being a prime global destination for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors alike.

2. Policy Vision

Maharashtra envisions becoming the most preferred and dynamic startup destination in India, with the highest concentration of startups in the country. The policy aspires to create a vibrant, inclusive, and innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures startups from ideation to scale.

By fostering a culture of innovation, the state aims to position itself as a global hub for next-generation entrepreneurs. Through this policy, Maharashtra will empower startups across all sectors and regions, with a special focus on future technologies, social impact, sustainability, and inclusive growth.

3. Objectives

The Maharashtra Startup Policy 2025 aims to transform the state into a national and global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. It aims to establish Maharashtra as the leading startup state in India by nurturing up to 1,25,000 entrepreneurs and recognizing up to 50,000 startups over the next five years, thereby generating widespread employment and innovation across sectors and regions.

4. Scope of the Policy

This policy outlines incentives and support mechanisms in addition to incentives provided by the state government under various policies and programs of various departments. The Government will strive to bring these benefits in a coordinated manner for all the stakeholders. This policy will remain in effect for next 5 years from the date of issue or till the new policy is announced.

The policy aims to create a strong startup and innovation ecosystem in Maharashtra focusing on leveraging and upgrading the existing infrastructure with the world class facilities for entrepreneurs. The main pillars of the policy are:

• •Promoting Innovation through cutting edge research and emerging technologies
• •Providing Mentorship through experts
• •Promoting Youth & Rural Entrepreneurship
• •Facilitating Regulatory Compliance
• •Promoting Women Entrepreneurship
• •Leveraging National and International Partnerships
• •Startup Procurement and Market Access
• •Fiscal Incentives

With the advent of new technologies and innovations in governance and public service delivery systems across all the departments and institutions, there is a need for cohesive and coordinated efforts to align resources, policies and programs. For this purpose, Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS) has been created in 2017 under the aegis of Department of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. This will be strengthened to effectively function as the apex agency for overall coordination related to entrepreneurship and innovation within the state.

Budgetary Provision

Each department in the state will provide 0.5% of its outlay for promotion of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The departments will prepare action plan of its programs and policy which will be presented before the General Body chaired by Hon. Chief Minister. This will help to bring convergence of the resources and alignment with this policy. This pooling of the resources will also be useful for implementation of flagship projects such as creation of Innovation Hubs, Labs, and other components in the policy.

Data Repository

To create an effective ecosystem for knowledge partnership, an online system for registration with the unique ID will be created to map all startups, incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs/labs/centre, investors and mentors/experts. Furthermore, all state government departments intending to establish or support incubators, accelerators, or related entities shall be required to obtain this unique ID from MSInS prior to operationalizing such initiatives. This system will enable centralized validation, avoid duplication, and ensure accountability, transparency, and effective coordination across the ecosystem.

7.1 A strong and interconnected infrastructure ecosystem forms the foundation of a thriving startup environment. To foster innovation and entrepreneurial growth, the Government of Maharashtra will strategically mobilize and enhance existing resources across the state to build a unified network of incubation centres, accelerators, startup hubs, micro-incubators, innovation labs, co-working spaces, and startup cafes. This integrated network will support startups across all stages — offering access to mentorship, prototyping, collaboration, and go-to-market resources. These hubs will also be designed to drive regional innovation and create localised opportunities across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.

7.2 In parallel with physical infrastructure, the state will place strong emphasis on building cutting-edge digital infrastructure to ensure startups have seamless access to tools, services, and knowledge networks. Key initiatives will include the expansion of high-speed internet connectivity, cloud computing platforms, AI sandboxes, cybersecurity infrastructure, and smart digital platforms that facilitate access to schemes, mentorship, funding, and collaboration. These digital enablers will play a critical role in ensuring equitable and scalable access for startups regardless of geography.

7.3 To align infrastructure development with market and technological trends, Maharashtra will also adopt a sector-focused approach to ecosystem building. Tailored programs, dedicated zones, and specialized facilities will be created to nurture innovation in these areas, making Maharashtra a launchpad for future-ready startups and breakthrough technologies. High-potential sectors prioritized are:

• •Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fintech, Agritech, Medtech
• •Semiconductors, Cybersecurity, Biotech, Spacetech
• •Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility
• •Deeptech, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Defence, and Aviation

7.4 Government will support the development and adoption of green technologies and circular economy to promote sustainability. Government will also support incentivizing innovation, facilitating R&D, industry collaborations, and enabling market access for startups and innovators focused on sustainable technologies.

7.5 To promote social inclusion, a special focus with budgetary allocation will be provided for the vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities, transgenders, and others in all the policy initiatives and schemes for entrepreneurship and innovation. Similarly, targeted efforts will be made to provide incubation, market access, mentoring and technical support to startups and entrepreneurs from vulnerable groups.

8.1 Micro Incubators

To foster a widespread and decentralized support system for startups across all regions of the state, the government will establish a network of Micro Incubators in creating a hub-and-spoke model for comprehensive incubation services. With a dedicated corpus, these Micro Incubators will be strategically set up throughout Maharashtra, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to access essential resources and guidance in their local communities. These micro incubation centres will serve as interconnected nodes, providing startups with access to mentorship, infrastructure, industry linkages, and a conducive environment to nurture their ideas and ventures. These centres will be established in ITIs, Polytechnics and Colleges.

8.2 Incubation Support

The government of Maharashtra aims to support incubation centres across the state with funding assistance of up to ₹5 crore per centre. This initiative is designed to foster a robust regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, accelerating startup growth. A dedicated capacity-building program will also be launched to enhance the capabilities of these incubation centres.

The state government will collaborate with private incubators to support cutting-edge incubation centres. To further encourage performance, an Incubator Ranking Framework will be implemented to recognize and evaluate the success of various incubators. This framework will also focus on process based KPIs to ensure development of Innovation and Entrepreneurship ecosystem in the state.

To enhance collaboration and learning, Maharashtra will form a strong incubators network connecting all operational incubators in the state for collaboration and knowledge sharing. MSInS will play a key role in mapping the incubators and accelerators of Maharashtra for working in collaboration with the entire ecosystem and startups.

These incubation centres will act as a vital hub for startups, providing them with the mentorship, resources, and funding needed to grow and succeed. In addition to the specific areas listed above, other forms of support will be made available as required, ensuring a holistic approach to fostering a thriving startup ecosystem in the state. These activities will be undertaken by all the departments including Higher and Technical Education, Agriculture, Public Health, Urban Development Department, etc.

8.3 Accelerators

The state government will support accelerators to scale the growth stage startups in the state. Government will also partner with key ecosystem stakeholders to set up or support existing accelerators. These Accelerators would coach, mentor and incubate all types of startups irrespective of product, sector, and stage of start-up. Support will also be extended to acceleration centres in partnership with academic institutions including IITs, IIMs, Skills universities, and industry.

8.4 Regional Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hubs

Maharashtra government will create dedicated Regional Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hubs taking into consideration the fact that in some regions the ecosystem has evolved organically over the years. These hubs will serve as innovation hotspots, offering essential resources and infrastructure with the support from local governments, Academic Institutions, and the private sector. By creating and nurturing these hubs, the government aims to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, boosting the overall startup environment and driving sustainable development.

Administrative mechanisms: This will be created with due delegation of powers for fast decision making and nurturing innovations at regional level.

8.5 Provision of Government Open Data Sets

• •8.5.1 The Government will create a mechanism to improve the access to the datasets and models from various sectors and sources to catalyse AI based innovation and applications. The Government will attempt to curate and simplify the data for usage of startups.
• •8.5.2 The Government will facilitate workshops and hackathons / Grand challenges that will be use these prepared datasets to solve tangible local problems. This will transform passive data repositories into active resources and will provide invaluable material for emerging startups. It will offer practical, real-world training opportunities for aspiring data analysts and AI practitioners, effectively using public resources to build advanced skills.
• •8.5.3 Promote ethical, inclusive, and transparent use of data for citizen centric applications.

9.1 Maharashtra Innovation Excellence Awards

Recognizing the pivotal role of innovation in driving growth and progress, the state of Maharashtra is committed to celebrating, acknowledging, and incentivizing innovative endeavours within its boundaries. Aligned with this vision, the "Maharashtra Innovation Excellence Awards" will be instituted to honour and felicitate exceptional contributions to innovation across various sectors in the state. Award categories cover:

9.2 Making Districts as Fulcrum of Innovation

9.2.1 Strengthening of District Level Committee:

• •a. The District-Level "Skills, employment, Entrepreneurship, Innovation District Executive Committee", constituted under the Government Resolution dated 17th June 2023 (Department of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation) will be strengthened and empowered to effectively implement and monitor innovation and startup-related initiatives at the district level.
• •b. In alignment with the Government Resolution dated 13th December 2022 (Planning Department GR No.: DAP-1022/PR.No.230/Ka.1481), the policy will also leverage the 3.5% Innovation Fund earmarked under the District Annual Plan to support innovation and startup-related initiatives. This fund empowers district-level working committees to implement grassroots innovation programs including Startup Yatras, Hackathons, Innovation Cells, and other entrepreneurial activities.
• •c. District entrepreneurship and innovation fellowship scheme will be instituted to promote and boost the district innovation ecosystem.
• •d. Each district will be converted into a 'Growth-Hub' through promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation leveraging strengths of the district.

9.2.2 District Innovation Ranking Framework: This framework will evaluate Maharashtra's startup landscape through district-level interventions and support for the innovation ecosystem. This initiative aims to drive overall growth and development in the state. The framework will assess districts based on parameters like infrastructure, resources, ease of doing business, and implementation of startup-friendly environment. The top districts demonstrating exceptional performance in fostering a conducive environment for startups and innovations will be recognized, based on criteria set by the Maharashtra State Innovation Society. This should facilitate the district wise mapping of the sectors which will be focused on strengthening the startup and innovation ecosystem in that respective district.

9.2.3 Promoting Digital literacy and Entrepreneurial Skills: To foster innovation and entrepreneurship, a range of courses will be curated that provide the necessary skills, knowledge, and mindset to succeed in these areas in collaboration with relevant partners in schools, ITIs, Polytechnics, and Colleges. Such courses will also be made available as open source for the public. A dedicated mentoring mechanism will be created, connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with skilled professionals as mentors. The Government will also facilitate creation of special centres for enhancing digital capabilities and competencies of the community as a means of bridging the digital divide and empowering communities to gain confidence to access e-government services and online facilities. Community spaces such as libraries, panchayats, academic institutions, resident associations etc. may house such centres with a trained staff/Volunteers.

9.3 Mentorship Program

A hybrid platform will be created to encourage mentors and mentees to interact seamlessly to focus on specific industries, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The state government will collaborate with universities, industry associations, and successful businesses to establish partnerships. All the departments will collaborate with experts/organizations to create a pool of mentors for specific domains.

9.4 CSR Support

The state will have various avenues of collaborations via CSR to promote entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystem. Corporates will be encouraged to establish incubators, accelerators and Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and to encourage patents and commercialisation of innovations. Events like CSR Grand Challenge will be organised to propose solutions to specific social, developmental, or environmental challenges, with successful ones receiving grants, mentorship, and pilot opportunities.

9.5 Capacity Building Programs for Stakeholders

The state will create a platform and avenues for capacity building of officials and other stakeholders on startup ecosystem. The state recognizes the importance of equipping government officials, policymakers, regulatory bodies, academic institutions, industry associations, investors, mentors, and other stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support and nurture the startup ecosystem.

A comprehensive capacity-building program shall be implemented to enhance the understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation, and emerging technologies among these key stakeholders. The state will facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms, such as conferences, seminars, and online forums, where stakeholders like government agencies, corporates, investors, incubators, and startup founders can exchange best practices, insights, and learnings related to startup ecosystem development.

9.6 Sandbox Support

The state government, in partnership with various regulatory agencies and private entities will grant special support to startups to test new technologies and business models. A sandbox environment will be developed as part of this initiative — a secure, controlled space that allows emerging technologies, products, and services to be tested in compliance with government standards. This will enable startups to validate and refine their innovations under real-world conditions with reduced regulatory risk, fostering responsible experimentation and accelerated deployment.

9.7 Knowledge Portal

A knowledge portal will be developed for providing a user-friendly data platform that aggregates essential information such as startup directories, funding opportunities, mentorship, various schemes and incentives, market insights, ecosystem resources, and regulatory guidelines. This repository will attempt to integrate real-time data from government databases, industry reports, and other sources, ensuring accuracy and security with due compliance of data privacy laws.

9.8 Global Expansion Support

Startups who are looking to expand their business globally will be provided a support through exchange programs and networking. This will help Startups to create market access and exposure to global market.

10.1 Chief Minister Maha-Fund for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

To facilitate entrepreneurship and innovation at the grassroots level, the government will implement a Chief Minister Maha-Fund for entrepreneurship and innovation in partnership with academic and financial institutions including engineering, agriculture and allied sectors, ITIs, and polytechnics to provide financial assistance to selected entrepreneurs and innovators. The selected candidates will also gain access to incubation support, mentorship, facilities, and industry linkages to help validate and commercialize their ideas. This initiative will leverage institutional expertise to identify and nurture high-potential innovators and entrepreneurs at an early stage. Similarly, it will encourage entrepreneurship for youth with necessary mentoring and support. This scheme will be extended to youth from family business or artisanal enterprises for bringing innovation in their businesses.

10.1.1 The selection will be done in a three staged process:

The selected candidate will be provided with loan assistance from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh in collaboration with financial institutes. A corpus of INR 500 crore over a period of 5 years will be allocated. The corpus fund will be managed under financial experts.

10.2 Student Innovation Challenge / Startup Yatra

To foster grassroots innovation, the government will launch initiatives like Student Innovation Challenge and Startup Yatra, inviting grassroot innovators and early-stage startups to propose their innovative ideas to local challenges identified by the administration. Selected innovators will receive mentorship, incubation access, prototyping facilities, seed funding, cloud resources, and investor networking to help transform ideas into viable ventures.

10.3 Entrepreneurship Cells

To empower entrepreneurial mindsets, promote innovation, and provide hands-on exposure through mentorship, skill development, and alumni engagement, the academic institutions, schools, ITIs, Polytechnics will establish Entrepreneurship Cells (E-Cells). These cells will serve as platforms for students to explore real-world problem-solving and startup creation. Awareness programs and innovation activities will also be actively supported at the institutional level.

11.1 Women Entrepreneurship Wing

The Government will set up a dedicated Women Entrepreneurship Wing which will cater to the unique needs of women-led startups and enterprises across Maharashtra. This women-centric wing will provide tailored support to facilitation centers to ensure that women entrepreneurs receive the necessary resources and assistance by convergence of various government schemes. A vibrant community of women entrepreneurs will be created in partnership with various expert agencies and institutions working in this field.

This Wing will facilitate interventions including financial assistance, mentorship, incubation support and recognition to foster innovation and leadership, driving economic growth and inclusivity within the state.

11.2 Women Centric Incubation Centre

The state will establish dedicated incubation centre for women entrepreneurs in various regions. All the incubation centres will be encouraged to organise sessions for women entrepreneurs for mentorship, business planning, access to markets, and access to investors. The focus will be on scaling and expanding women entrepreneurs, especially from rural Maharashtra.

11.3 Special Financial Assistance for Women Startups

The government will set up a grant to support promising women-led startups based on selection process. The goal is to make Maharashtra the leading state with the highest number of women-led startups.

Maharashtra will establish a collaborative framework that encourages knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and collective problem-solving among government bodies, corporates, academic institutions, and research institutes. Through these partnerships, the state aims to accelerate the growth of startups, encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and position Maharashtra as a global innovation hub. The State will also explore the partnerships with Developmental organisations/Foundations/Industry Associations and NGOs for effective implementation of the programs and initiatives.

Cross-border partnerships with ecosystem stakeholders including universities, academia, investors, government, and industries will be developed. The Government will create a network of all global ecosystem stakeholders for the benefit and support of startups in Maharashtra.

13.1 Seed Fund Support

The policy aims to provide financial assistance through incubation centres to early-stage startups that have innovative ideas and the potential to create a positive impact on the state's economy. The grant scheme will be open to startups registered in Maharashtra from all sectors.

13.2 Venture Fund

The Government will establish and operationalise a Venture Fund to support deep tech startups and women led startups which are innovative, scalable, and socially relevant solutions. This sector agnostic fund aims to empower startups that create high-impact innovations and sustainable employment opportunities.

13.3 Fund of Funds

The Government through the Fund of Funds model will make investment in "Daughter Funds," which would invest in startups promoting innovative ideas and technologies across all sectors in Maharashtra.

13.4 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Support

The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) support program aims to provide financial assistance to Maharashtra startups recognized by DPIIT by reimbursing costs for granted Patents, Industrial Design Patents, Utility Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights. The monetary support is capped as follows:

13.5 Quality Testing and Certification Support

Startups will be eligible for reimbursement of costs up to ₹5,00,000 for quality testing and certification of their innovative solutions. This testing must be conducted by recognized institutions such as NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories), BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), or other government-recognized/nationalized labs.

13.6 Exhibition Support

Under this initiative, startups will be provided reimbursement for the exhibition stall rental cost incurred for participating in prominent/notified national or international exhibitions. This support will be extended with a maximum limit of up to ₹2,00,000/- for domestic exhibitions and up to ₹5,00,000/- for international exhibitions. The reimbursement support will be provided to a startup only once during its entire lifespan on proven merit.

13.7 Maharashtra Startup Week

The Maharashtra Startup Week program aims to provide direct work order to startups and facilitate fruitful collaborations between startups and government entities, with a strong emphasis on promoting innovation and driving positive change in public services.

• •a) Startup Selection: Each year, a rigorous selection process will identify 50 promising startups to participate in this initiative. The selection criteria will prioritize startups with exceptional innovative capabilities and relevance to enhancing government operations.
• •b) Government Work Orders: The selected startups will be awarded with direct work orders to roll out pilots of their innovations in various government departments, agencies, and institutions up to ₹25 lakhs. These work orders will serve as a mechanism for engaging the startups in projects focused on modernizing and improving various aspects of public administration and service delivery.
• •c) Industry Department will modify procurement guidelines to facilitate procurement from startup week winners at state and national level.

13.8 Loan Assistance to Startups

To support startups to scale, a mechanism will be created in partnership with financial institutions to assist for loans to meet their cash flow requirement against confirmed work orders from reliable clients such as government bodies or large/renowned corporations. This initiative will address cash flow challenges, helping startups scale their operations and strengthen their credibility in the market.

13.9 Grand Challenge & Hackathon

To leverage the immense talent of the youth combined with new technologies, there is tremendous scope for finding solutions to problems faced by public as well as private sector. To tackle these challenges, various stakeholders will be encouraged to define problems and organise Hackathons and Grand Challenges.

13.10 Common Incentives for Startups

The Government of Maharashtra has already extended a package of common incentives including rebates in electricity tariffs and stamp duty for startups vide GR dated 27th June 2023 — "New Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services Policy of Maharashtra State - 2023" by the Department of Industries. Systematic efforts will be made to disseminate incentives available under different policies of State and Central Government to ensure that maximum startups can take advantage of the same.

13.11 Winding Up Facilitation

The state will provide guidance and facilitation to entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of closing or exiting a startup venture. This may include but not limited to offering counselling and advisory services and providing resources to help entrepreneurs effectively manage the winding up process.

Maharashtra will build a dedicated Innovation City spread over 300 acres. This will serve as a state-of-the-art city which will bring together startups, corporates, investors, academia, and government under one roof. It will act as a hub for collaborative cutting edge research and innovation with participation of industry, experts, researchers, and startups.