PhysicsWallah School of Startups (PW SoS) has entered into a two-year partnership with Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to support 25,000 early-stage startups across the country.
The programme is aimed at founders in Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural areas, where access to mentors, investors and startup infrastructure can be more limited than in established hubs. The partnership will combine training, incubation, investor access and funding support for entrepreneurs at different stages.
PW SoS, the entrepreneurship arm of education company PhysicsWallah, plans to run several programmes under the partnership. These will cover early idea development, product building, deep-tech innovation and preparation for growth-stage funding.
Startup Support Hubs
One of the programmes, PW UDYAMI, will offer a 90-day live online training course followed by one year of mentorship. It is aimed at entrepreneurs from smaller towns and rural areas who are developing their initial business ideas.
Another programme, Aarambh Immersion, will run as a five-day residential programme. It will focus on areas such as prototype development, pitch preparation and networking, giving aspiring founders a more intensive setting to work on their ideas.
For startups that have moved beyond the initial stage, the Growth Stage CEO Program will cover 200 DPIIT-recognised startups through four hybrid cohorts. The programme is intended to help founders prepare for larger funding rounds and business expansion.
Supporting entrepreneurs beyond Tier-I cities is key to building a stronger startup ecosystem in India. Our partnership with PhysicsWallah School of Startups will help grassroots innovators access the resources, mentorship and infrastructure they need to turn their ideas into scalable, job-creating businesses across Bharat.— Ateesh Kumar Singh, Add. Secretary, DPIIT
PW SoS will also run a six-month DeepTech Accelerator for selected ventures. The programme is designed to provide support to high-potential deep-tech startups as they work towards growth and funding.
Early-stage innovators will also be able to seek proof-of-concept development, corporate pilot opportunities and seed investment through the annual National AI Startup Challenge & SeedX. The initiative adds an AI-focused route for founders working on technology-led products.
Entrepreneurs will also have access to incubation facilities and seed grants through the StartinUP Business Incubation Centre. The centre is hosted by PW School of Startups and is approved under the Uttar Pradesh government startup programme.
Purpose of DPIIT
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) plays a central role in implementing Startup India policies and supporting the wider startup ecosystem. Its work includes promoting entrepreneurship, improving the business environment and connecting founders with government-backed programmes and ecosystem partners.
Partnerships with incubators, educational institutions, investors and industry bodies allow DPIIT and Startup India to extend support beyond government programmes alone. Such tie-ups can help founders access training, mentorship, infrastructure and capital at different stages instead of depending only on established startup centres.
The latest partnership is focused particularly on widening this access to smaller cities and rural areas, where founders may have fewer direct links with investors and experienced startup operators.
Different Programmes
Rounaq Mustafa, Head of PW School of Startups, said the partnership is intended to make entrepreneurial knowledge, mentorship and funding more accessible to founders across the country.
“True empowerment means making knowledge, mentorship and funding accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs across Bharat. Through our partnership with DPIIT and Startup India, PW School of Startups aims to support aspiring founders with initiatives like PW UDYAMI, Aarambh and deep-tech acceleration programmes to help turn ideas into successful businesses,” Mustafa said.
Regional Startup Ecosystems
PW School of Startups is also an accredited incubator under the Uttar Pradesh government StartInUP initiative. Through the new partnership, it will combine its incubation and entrepreneurship programmes with the wider reach of Startup India.
The stated target of 25,000 startups makes the programme one of the broader startup-support initiatives announced by PW SoS. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on how many participating founders progress from training and incubation to product validation, customers, funding and sustainable businesses.
For founders outside the major metropolitan startup centres, the partnership could provide another route to structured support. The programmes cover different stages of venture building, from developing an initial idea and prototype to seeking investment and preparing for expansion.
