New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) - On Friday, startup founders expressed their appreciation for the various government initiatives aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, particularly those hailing from smaller cities and towns. They noted that India has historically been a land rich with entrepreneurial spirit, and these programs are laying down a solid framework to bolster support for these individuals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the decade-long journey of Startup India as a revolution fueled by dreams and youthful creativity. He emphasized that this initiative has evolved beyond a mere government scheme, transforming into a defining movement for a new India while addressing startup founders, innovators, and young entrepreneurs at Bharat Mandapam on National Startup Day.

“It was a fantastic experience. I was thrilled to engage directly with the Prime Minister and showcase our capabilities, the potential of our products, and their societal impact as well as within the government framework,” shared Commander (Retd) Sudheesh TM, CTO of MistEO, in an interview with IANS.

“I am grateful to the Startup India Mission for facilitating this interaction. The Prime Minister was highly attentive, actively listening to our project and product discussions, and posed insightful questions. It was a truly unforgettable and inspiring encounter,” he added.

Samuel John, Co-Founder and CEO of MistEO, reiterated that India has long been a hub for entrepreneurs, and these initiatives are essential in establishing a robust support system for them.

Neha Chauhan, CEO and Co-founder of AeroBaY, expressed that receiving the ‘Startup India National Startup Award’ feels like a dream realized for any entrepreneur.

“We’ve anticipated this moment for ages, and it’s still surreal. I genuinely believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a remarkable program through various schemes, including the Startup India Fund Scheme and the NIDHI Prayas Yojana,” she told IANS.

Prime Minister Modi pointed out that India has quickly ascended to become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem in just ten years. He noted that the number of startups has surged from under 500 in 2014 to over 200,000 today, with unicorns increasing from four to nearly 125, while Indian startups are increasingly pursuing IPOs, generating jobs, and attracting global interest.

Purvi Roy, Founder and CEO of Arista Vault, mentioned that PM Modi's vision for startups originated in 2016 when the country had only a few hundred startups.

“At that time, he realized many individuals were struggling to find employment, which led to the inception of the Startup India initiative... I, too, have benefited from this program,” Roy explained.

Devika Chandrasekharan, Founder and MD of Fuselage Innovations Pvt Ltd, recounted that her company started with just a two-member team and is now tackling significant challenges in the agricultural sector.

“The inspiration struck us following a flood in our locality, motivating us to devise solutions for farmers. We developed two drones to address issues like crop damage and plant treatment methods,” Chandrasekharan stated.

Arun Pandit, Co-founder and CEO of Hyphen SCS, expressed pride in their accomplishments. “We have received numerous awards both nationally and internationally, but being recognized at the national level is profoundly emotional. We are incredibly proud, deeply moved, and our team is highly motivated to elevate India’s innovations on the global stage,” Pandit told IANS.