Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S. Krishnan launched the LEAP AHEAD initiative, a collaboration of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) on Monday, November 6, at the LEAP AHEAD summit in Delhi.

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This project will be a game changer for tech startups that are scaling, growing, product diversifying, or considering regional expansion. They can benefit from up to Rs 1 crore in financing and a three-month mentoring programme that mixes virtual and in-person sessions for a well-rounded learning experience. Furthermore, through one-on-one mentorship meetings with seasoned investors and industry experts, the project will give start-ups access to a large network as well as personalised counsel.

Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI; Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY; Saurabh Shrivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR & Co Founder, Indian Angel Network; Alok Mittal, Co-founder, Indifi Technologies & President, TiE Delhi-NCR; Ashok Singh, Executive Vice President, Investor Relations, Mumbai Angels; Prem Bharthasarathy, Managing Partner, Pontaq Ventures India LLP, DeveshTyagi, Senior Director, STPI; Subodh Sachan, Director, Innovation and Startups, STPI; and Manjusha Chourasia, Scientist ‘E’, MeitY were also present at the event.

"This LEAP AHEAD initiative is very timely in terms of emphasising the opportunities that lie for entrepreneurship in India. Today, India is no longer known as a BPO destination; it has evolved into a global capability centre and R&D centre. India stands as a leader in digital public infrastructure, and this can now be used in multiple ways by entrepreneurs to build successful enterprises. Youth in smaller cities have the hunger to do more and achieve more. That’s the fire in the belly we need to build on. We would also like to see more women and people from Tier 2/3 cities coming as entrepreneurs," said S Krishnan.

TiE Delhi-NCR has always led the way in establishing a more welcoming environment for entrepreneurs and investors. TiE Delhi-NCR offers a variety of programmes to assist businesses. TiEcon, Startup Expo, TiE Institute, TiE Young Entrepreneurs, and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) from various industries are among them.

"With this initiative, technology startups will gain entry into the market, experience rapid growth, and diversify into new horizons. This programme is focused mainly on two things – mentorship and co-investment. Besides Delhi, LEAP AHEAD Startup summits are also planned to be held in Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, and Chandigarh," said Arvind Kumar, DG, STPI.

Alok Mittal, President, TiE Delhi-NCR, said, "TiE's mission has always been to foster ecosystems, and this programme aligns perfectly with our goals. We'll mentor 75 companies over three months, aiming to secure funding for about 15. We'll also take these showcases to over 30 cities, expanding the impact."

What is STPI?

STPI is a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology institution that promotes software exports, nurtures the tech startup environment, and works to disperse the IT/ITES industry. STPI has been actively involved in building India's startup ecosystem through its Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) and 22 domain-specific Centres of Entrepreneurship Innovation by providing entrepreneurs with the necessary assistance and resources.