Bengaluru, Mumbai, Gurugram, and New Delhi have emerged as the top startup hubs in India for 2024, according to a recent report. These cities are home to the highest number of self-made entrepreneurs and notable companies in the country. Bengaluru leads the pack with 98 entrepreneurs and 66 notable companies.
Mumbai follows closely with 73 entrepreneurs and 36 notable companies. Gurugram and New Delhi have 34 and 51 entrepreneurs, respectively, along with 31 and 15 notable companies. Other cities making the top 10 list include Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Jaipur.
Each of these locations offers unique advantages, such as strong infrastructure and supportive startup ecosystems. The report highlights India’s rapid growth as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
India’s startup surge in top cities
The country now boasts the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over 140,000 startups registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as of 2024. This marks a significant increase from just 50,000 startups in 2018. The collective valuation of India’s most valuable companies has also grown by 20% compared to the previous year, reaching an impressive INR 36 lakh crores.
The government’s initiatives, such as the Startup India program and the BHASKAR (Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry) digital platform, have played a crucial role in fostering this growth. BHASKAR, launched in September 2024, has already registered 5 lakh users from 28 states and garnered over 7 lakh views in just two months. The platform aims to streamline the entrepreneurial journey by providing a centralized database, promoting networking, and facilitating collaboration among startups, investors, mentors, and other stakeholders.
It has contributed to the decentralization of the startup ecosystem, with new ventures emerging in Tier II and Tier III cities across the country. As India continues to nurture its thriving startup landscape, these top 10 cities are expected to drive innovation, attract investment, and create new opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in the years to come.
