Piyush Goyal Unveils ₹70 Crore Prize Pool for Startup MahaRathi Challenge

​The Startup Mahakumbh 2025 recently witnessed the launch of the Startup MahaRathi Challenge by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Having a prize pool of ₹70 crore, this challenge will motivate the innovation across sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, biotechnology and other sectors. 

Background: The Genesis of Startup MahaRathi Challenge

The DPIIT Startup Mahakumbh 2025 is a mega innovate the entrepreneurial platform for Startup India. As a strategic road map in this regard, Startup MahaRathi Challenge was announced to identify and support emerging startups that have an inclination towards transforming the world with such inspirational ideas and solutions.

Key Highlights of the Challenge

Prize Pool and Incentives: The competition is a ₹70 crore prize pool that not only makes it biggest ever private funded challenge for India but also with a prize angle of ₹1 crore for everyone on team India. This substantial fund is set up to give financial support, mentor, and national exposure to winners.

The Startups participating should fall in DPIIT Recognized Startups category, from early to growth stages and be actively operating across India. The Registration was opened from February 26 to March 12, 2025.​

The Challenge has a wide range of themes, such as AI, DeepTech, Cybersecurity, ClimateTech, AgriTech, Gaming & Sports, FinTech etc. The wide-ranging focus allows for the promotion of innovations to solve wide societal and industrial needs.​

Shortlisted startups will get the opportunity to go into sector specific mentorship programs. In Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Startup ideas of top 150 startups will be presented before a Grand Jury in New Delhi. They will receive funding, strategic guidance and a way to showcase their innovations on a national stage.​

Minister Piyush Goyal’s Vision

This was marked with the Minister Goyal who stressed that energies of entrepreneurship should be channelled into high-tech sectors. Startups are encouraged by him to abandon the idea of building services centered around consumers, instead of engaging in semiconductors, machine learning, robotics, and other AI or data based industry as these had the more potential than others.

He further drew the attention of the need of bold aspirations and said, ‘we have to be bolder, we should not shy of competition, we have to be willing to learn, evolve… strive for higher and better.’

Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Benefits

Fiscal and non fiscal benefits will accrues to the participants of the Startup MahaRathi Challenge. Fiscal incentives included monetary prizes, grants and corporate credits mainly because of their ability to offer startups the monetary resources to scale their respective operations.

Networking opportunities and mentorship from industry leaders, investors and policymakers are included in non fiscal benefits which create a sustainable environment for collaborative growth and innovation.​

Promoting a Move Away from Deep-Tech Innovations

The challenge fits into the larger goal of nurturing India’s startup community in the direction of pushing deep-tech innovations. The initiative focuses on providing emphasis to sectors like AI, robotics and semiconductors, so that India can be seen as a global leader in the field of technological advancements. Sustaining long term growth in the international arena requires companies to make a strategic shift.​

A Catalyst for Transformative Innovation

Beyond being a competition, the Startup MahaRathi Challenge is a catalyst for change and is aimed to give rise to transformative innovation in India. The challenge aims to inspire startups to go for bold, ambitious projects in exchange for substantial rewards and a platform for national recognition.

This initiative reflects the new government’s resolve to further develop a vibrant and forward looking entrepreneurial ecosystem in order to make India a leader in the field of technology and innovation and well on its way to becoming a global entity.​