The second edition of Startup Mahakumbh 2025, spearheaded by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), is rolling out a dynamic lineup of competitions aimed at nurturing innovation across key sectors including AI, cybersecurity, robotics, biotech, fintech, and more. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal announced that the prize pool for the event stands at a staggering ₹70 crore, marking it as a milestone initiative to empower early and growth-stage startups across India.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Piyush Goyal described the Startup MahaRathi Challenge as the largest privately funded startup competition in the country. Designed to identify and elevate high-potential ventures, the challenge serves as a launchpad for Indian startups looking to scale and disrupt.
The registration window for the competition was open from February 26 to March 12, 2025, and was limited to DPIIT-recognized startups. Shortlisted participants will enter specialized mentorship tracks tailored to their domains and business maturity levels. The top 150 ventures will get the opportunity to pitch to a Grand Jury at the Startup Mahakumbh 2025 in New Delhi, with the event culminating in a live pitching finale.
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Winning startups will receive not only financial backing but also strategic mentorship and exposure at the national level. The challenge encompasses themes such as deep tech, agri-tech, climate tech, gaming and sports, and digital public infrastructure.
Along with significant fiscal incentives—including grants, prizes, and corporate credits—the competition also promises non-fiscal benefits like networking access to top corporates, investors, policymakers, and industry experts.