The government of Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, has set in motion an ambitious project to establish the largest startup ecosystem in India around the Lucknow region.
This initiative builds and provides a structure to the creation of a comprehensive startup nurturing environment in the capital city of Uttar Pradesh,, encompassing facilities like a data center, business process outsourcing (BPO) units, development centers, and training facilities. A sprawling 40-acre plot of land near Lucknow Airport has already been identified for this purpose. The Software Technology Park of India (STPI), a central government agency, is gearing up to invest a substantial amount of Rs 200 million in the initial phase, dedicated to constructing the primary complex of the startup hub, which will cover an area of 2 acres.
Speaking on the matter, Sanjiv Saran, the additional chief secretary for IT & electronics in Uttar Pradesh, highlighted that this proposed facility is predicted to be the most extensive in terms of physical space and human resources. Saran further elaborated, stating that the crucial collaborations with stakeholders and partners are anticipated to take about 6 months to solidify. Following this, the startup hub is projected to be fully operational within the subsequent 3 years.
Back in February 2018, during the UP Investors Summit, the Yogi Adityanath government witnessed investment proposals worth a substantial Rs 130 billion aimed at initiating startup ventures. These proposals are now being actively pursued to accelerate their realization. Additionally, the state’s authorities are contemplating collaboration with local institutions in Uttar Pradesh, engaging them as knowledge partners in diverse projects.
To bolster the startup ecosystem, the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated a dedicated startup fund of Rs 10 billion in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). Of this amount, roughly Rs 2.5 billion has already been earmarked to support startups across the state.
Among the range of initiatives already implemented, the department has also introduced a dedicated startup helpline, which aspiring entrepreneurs can utilize to seek guidance and support while launching their startups.