India’s dynamic startup ecosystem has found a unified voice with the launch of the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), a strategic initiative aimed at fostering collaboration between policymakers and leading ventures. The forum brings together 30 of the country’s most prominent startups across diverse sectors, including Razorpay, CRED, Pine Labs, Groww, OYO, Swiggy, Practo, Dream11, MPL, Cars24, CarDekho, Acko, Ixigo, Livspace, and Jupiter, to work towards driving transformative change in the Indian economy.
In a statement about the initiative, Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the role startups play in transforming India’s economic landscape. “Our startups are driving transformative change by democratizing business and converting job seekers into job creators. We are glad to see many founders joining the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), which should reinforce India’s global leadership in the new-age economy. The forum should play a pivotal role in India’s journey to become Viksit Bharat by 2047 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” said Goyal.
The Startup Policy Forum, founded by Shweta Rajpal Kohli, a former Peak XV executive and public policy expert, aims to elevate India’s startup ecosystem on a global stage. Kohli, who spearheads the forum, envisions SPF playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between the fast-growing startup sector and government policymakers. “The forum will not only advocate for the interests of India’s startups but also create a space for constructive dialogue between entrepreneurs and regulators,” Kohli remarked.
Initially, SPF will limit its membership to 100 select startups, with over 30 companies already on board. These include high-growth names such as Razorpay, CRED, Pine Labs, Groww, Acko, OYO, Swiggy, Practo, Dream11, MPL, Cars24, CarDekho, CureFoods, Livspace, Ixigo, Ultrahuman, Digantara, Invideo, Jupiter, OneCard, Mobikwik, Yubi, Progcap, and Bluestone, among others.
To better address sector-specific needs, SPF has established four specialized councils:
- Fintech Policy Council (FPC)
- Consumer and Commerce Council (CACC)
- Emerging Tech & AI Council (ETAC)
- New-Age Public Companies Council (NPCC)
Each council will focus on critical aspects within the startup ecosystem, providing a platform for collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to tackle sector-specific challenges. The councils will work to create a policy-friendly environment, support innovation, and boost India’s position in the global startup landscape.
By aligning with government initiatives, SPF is set to amplify India’s vision of becoming a global leader in the new-age economy, offering a promising future for startups and fostering sustainable growth.
