The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, announced five strategic Memoranda of Understanding with key industry partners to strengthen support for India's startup ecosystem. The partnerships were signed on August 8, 2026, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative.
Partnership Details
Cashfree Payments Collaboration: DPIIT signed an MoU with Cashfree Payments India Private Limited to enhance digital payment infrastructure and fintech capabilities for startups. The partnership provides DPIIT-recognized startups with access to secure payment and payout solutions, identity verification, risk management services, preferential onboarding support, and commercial benefits. Additionally, it includes founder workshops, mentoring sessions, AI buildathons, hackathons, and knowledge-sharing programs focused on digital payments, compliance, fraud prevention, KYC, cross-border transactions, and emerging technologies.
Darwin Dynamics Partnership: The MoU with Darwin Dynamics LLP aims to expand inclusive entrepreneurship and deep-tech innovation across Tier II, Tier III, and rural regions. The collaboration will facilitate startup formalization, strengthen entrepreneurship awareness, support capacity-building programs, and promote innovation in clean energy, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, climate technologies, and advanced manufacturing. Specific initiatives include startup outreach drives, entrepreneurship bootcamps, mentor network development, international market access programs, investor connect initiatives, and policy research studies, with special focus on youth, women entrepreneurs, and first-generation founders.
Vultr India Collaboration: The partnership with Vultr India Pvt Ltd. focuses on enhancing cloud infrastructure access for startups. DPIIT-recognized startups will receive cloud credits, preferential pricing, and technical support through Vultr's startup programs. The collaboration includes structured training sessions on cloud computing, storage, databases, Kubernetes, networking, and application deployment, along with technical handholding and participation in Startup India events to reduce technology adoption barriers.
Cars24 Partnership: The MoU with Cars24 Services Private Limited aims to drive mobility, auto-tech, and AI innovation. The auto-tech company will provide structured mentorship to startup founders, promote mobility and autotech skilling programs, facilitate AI-focused technology enablement, and organize innovation challenges and hackathons. The collaboration will also support promising startups through investment evaluation and ecosystem engagement in mobility and artificial intelligence sectors, contributing to road safety and sustainable transportation solutions.
Council for Startup India Collaboration: The MoU with Council for Startup India (CSI) focuses on accelerating investment, governance, and global scaling for startups. CSI will provide programs on investment readiness, corporate engagement, CFO matchmaking, global market access, and international innovation collaborations. The partnership will facilitate corporate partnerships, support founders in governance, financial readiness, compliance, international expansion, and strengthen linkages between startups, investors, industry, and policy stakeholders.
Expected Outcomes
The collective partnerships are designed to create a more robust startup ecosystem by providing comprehensive support across digital infrastructure, technology access, mentorship, funding, and global market connectivity. The initiatives aim to position India as a globally competitive innovation-led economy by supporting startups from underserved regions and promoting cutting-edge solutions in strategic sectors including clean energy, AI, climate tech, and advanced manufacturing.