Start-Up Ecosystem in India: A Study With Focus on Entrepreneurship and University Business Incubators

Abstract

On one side India is growing to be one of world’s biggest markets after China. The incomes and consumption of not just the thriving middle class but even the rural economy is rapidly growing. On the other hand India has lot of really big problems to be solved - be it in education, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, retail, healthcare etc. This combination is the most fertile ground for startups. The big businesses are comfortable making money off the shortcomings rather than solving them or changing their existing established business models. It’s the startups that will come up with innovative disruptive business models to solve the challenges India faces. And this is the biggest impact startups will have on the Indian economy. But entrepreneurship is not an easy path and the more you grow the more challenges you face. From awareness and sustainability of businesses to regulations associated with legality and enforceability, the list of challenges is long. Given these challenges, it can be hard to get started on your entrepreneurial journey without guidance and assistance. So how does one move forward and get ahead? Where do entrepreneurs get their dose of skill and know-how supplements to turn their startup ideas into reality? Incubators have an answer to the problem. The present paper develops an in-depth understanding of the startup ecosystem in India. This paper discusses the role of Incubators in producing and nurturing successful business ventures. It also studies the government’s policy measures in fostering entrepreneurship culture and setting up university business incubators. At last the paper discusses the availability of grants to academic institutions for establishing the incubators in their premises.