Maharashtra leading the country in startup innovation, investment: Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the state has continued to solidify its position as a national leader in the startup ecosystem and is home to the highest number of startups receiving funding in IndiaSpeaking at the Startup Conclave 2025 in the Nesco Centre at Goregaon Mumbai Shinde said that Maharashtra has emerged as the hub for innovation financial support and technological advancementsThe conclave was organised in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR and three major scientific institutionsDuring his speech the Deputy CM highlighted that Maharashtra now houses 24 per cent of the countryrsquos total startups with a staggering 26686 startups registered within the state according to the 2025 Economic Survey He attributed this growth to a ldquofavourablerdquo ecosystem for investors and venture capital funds which makes Mumbai an ideal location for startup growthldquoThe statersquos robust infrastructure and conducive policies have made it the countryrsquos number one destination for startups Mumbai with its status as a financial capital has become the highest recipient of startup funding in India Startups in the city have raised a remarkable 37 billion in 2025 marking a 154 per cent increase from the previous yearrdquo he saidElaborating on Maharashtrarsquos achievements the deputy CM also claimed that Mumbai is the top destination for financial capital not just in India but globally ldquoThe city has emerged as a prime hub for fintech ecommerce HealthTech EdTech and DeepTech startups The statersquos initiatives such as Maharashtra Startup Week Mumbai Fintech Hub and the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme have contributed immensely to this transformationrdquo he saidSpeaking about the statersquos evolving landscape Shinde said that Pune leads in Information Technology automotive industries and biotechnology Furthermore Navi Mumbai is set to become a significant innovation hub with the development of a stateoftheart lsquoInnovation Cityrsquo on 300 acres he highlighted ldquoThis modern facility will focus on fostering startups in areas like science technology biotechnology data science and advanced manufacturingrdquo said ShindeMaharashtra is home to 27 unicornsmdashcompanies valued at over 1 billionmdashwhich further cements its position as the heart of Indiarsquos startup revolution These successes are part of a broader national trend with India now hosting over 15 lakh startups pointed out ShindeHe also stated that India is on the path to becoming one of the worldrsquos leading startup ecosystems With the governmentrsquos continuous efforts and the increasing support for innovation India is wellpositioned to become the global startup hub of the future he saidIn his address the deputy CM expressed his gratitude to the CSIRNational Chemical Laboratory CSIRNational Institute of Oceanography and CSIRNational Institute of Science and Technology for organising the conclave He also appealed to the scientific community to ensure that the benefits of technology and research reach the most marginalised sectors of societyBefore concluding his speech Shinde paid tribute to eminent Indian astrophysicist Dr Jayant Narlikar who passed away in Pune on Tuesday at the age of 86atOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params