SAMRIDH Programme
(Start-up Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth)
Background and Purpose
- India already had multiple incubation programmes to support start-ups. But incubation mainly helps in the initial nurturing (basic facilities, workspace, networking).
- The government realized there was a gap: start-ups also need acceleration – i.e., rapid growth support, international exposure, and access to investors.
- Thus, in 2021, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched SAMRIDH.
Purpose:
➡️ To create a conducive platform for Indian software product start-ups, so they can improve their products and also secure investments to scale up their business.
Objectives
- To support existing and upcoming accelerators so they can handpick promising IT-based start-ups.
- To accelerate at least 300 start-ups in three years by providing:
- Customer connect
- Investor connect
- International immersion (exposure to global markets)
- To promote social impact start-ups – i.e., those solving India’s pressing problems (health, education, agriculture, governance, etc.) through digital innovation.
Implementing Agency
- The nodal agency is MeitY-Start-Up Hub (MSH).
- MSH acts as a national coordination, facilitation, and monitoring centre for all incubation and start-up-related initiatives under MeitY.
Salient Features
(A) Financial Support
- Each selected start-up can receive up to ₹40 lakh investment.
- Funding is routed through the chosen accelerators.
(B) Role of Accelerators
- Accelerators are organisations that help early-stage, growth-driven companies by providing:
- Education
- Mentorship
- Financing
- SAMRIDH does not replace incubators – instead, it builds on them. The start-ups that graduate from incubators become feeders to SAMRIDH accelerators.
(C) Eligibility for Accelerators
To qualify under SAMRIDH, an accelerator must:
- Be in incubation business for at least 3 years and supported 50+ start-ups, of which at least 10 got non-public (private) investment; OR
- Have run at least 3 targeted accelerator cohorts with activities aligned to SAMRIDH.
- Operate in India with proper space and infrastructure.
- Have demonstrated capability in:
- Domestic & international market immersion.
- Networking with Venture Capitalists (VCs) and Angel Investors.
- Onboarding leading business mentors.
- Running structured cohort-based programmes for deep-tech software product start-ups.
(D) Support Mechanism
- MeitY-Start-Up Hub (MSH) will take equity in start-ups for the government’s contribution via Promissory Note or SAFE Note (Simple Agreement for Future Equity).
- This ensures self-sustainability of the programme (returns from successful start-ups can fund future ones).
- A Project Management Unit will oversee the entire implementation.
Significance
- It focuses not just on funding but also on holistic support: mentorship, global exposure, and market linkages.
- It aims to create deep-tech software product start-ups that solve India’s large-scale problems while creating jobs and intellectual property.
- By involving private accelerators, it leverages the strength of the ecosystem while ensuring government support and oversight.