Under CM Bhajanlal Sharma, Rajasthan Strengthens Startup Ecosystem; iStart Becomes One-Stop Gateway for Startups

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Rajasthan’s startup ecosystem has become stronger—iStart portal has emerged as a one-stop gateway for startups. Rajasthan’s startups are receiving support in funding, upskilling, incubation and overall growth. Over 7,100 startups have secured investments exceeding ₹1,000 crore, and more than 42,000 jobs have been created through the iStart programme in the state.

Jaipur, Nov 2025 : With Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma promoting new enterprises, Rajasthan is witnessing increased employment generation and investment. Under his direction, the Department of Information Technology and Communication is running the iStart programme to boost innovation across the state. Through iStart Rajasthan (an integrated startup platform), comprehensive support is being provided to enhance the quality and capabilities of startups.

The iStart portal is operated and managed by the state government and has grown into one of the country’s largest startup ecosystems. More than 7,100 startups are registered on the portal and have collectively received over ₹1,000 crore in investment, generating more than 42,500 jobs. Startups are receiving recognition, upgrades, skill development, incentives, and funding through the iStart platform. The portal www.istart.rajasthan.gov.in has been designed to provide all startup-related information at one place.

The iStart portal has become a one-stop gateway for all incentives. Dashboards have been created on the portal for government officials, startups, mentors, students, teachers, lecturers, schools, administrators, and other stakeholders. Various facilities for startups are being made available through this platform.

Startup Evaluation and Growth through Curate Programme

The Curate programme is the country’s only startup rating mechanism. Startups are evaluated and tested under this programme, and provided financial support and incubation facilities. A detailed report is prepared on the investment potential of each startup. Boot camps are organised to help founders improve their products, strategies, business plans, and market readiness, and to work on limitations and shortcomings.

iStart Nest Network Expanding Startups through Incubation

The incubation programme offers free workspace, connectivity, computer hardware, basic infrastructure, mentorship, market access, VC and investor connections, and links to national and international organisations and experts. iStart Nest is a network of investors and advisors that helps startups scale and innovate. Incubation centres are operational in Jaipur (Techno Hub), and in Bharatpur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Pali, and Churu. Across all incubators (including virtual incubators), 2,000 seats have been made available for startups.
Techno Hub is India’s largest startup hub, with space for more than 700 startups and an incubation area of 1.5 lakh sq. ft. It serves as a one-stop solution for startups. Incubation facilities are also available at the divisional level.

Financial Support from the State Government

The state government provides financial assistance of up to ₹2.4 lakh at the idea/prototype stage (₹3 lakh for women-led startups). At the seed stage, funding of up to ₹60 lakh is available, along with loan assistance of up to ₹2 crore and equity support of up to ₹5 crore. Under the e-Marketplace facility, registered startups can receive direct work orders of up to ₹25 lakh from various government departments. So far, 168 work orders worth over ₹30 crore have been issued.

iStart Launchpad and Atal Innovation Programmes

To encourage entrepreneurship among school and college students, the IT & Communication Department, in collaboration with the School Education Department, is running 65 iStart Launchpad Nests across 33 districts. Students receive guidance on entrepreneurship, innovation, emerging technologies, and prototyping. The Atal Innovation Programme will include opportunities in AVGC-XR, coding, robotics, and agritech to promote creative economy and skill development. Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Bharatpur are key participating districts.

School Startup Programme for Students

To nurture entrepreneurship and innovation among school students, the School Startup Programme has been developed under the expanded iStart initiative. More than 1,16,000 students have registered on the iStart portal so far. Students receive information on self-employment and business skills, and participants receive certificates upon completing the module.

Rural iStart Programme Expanding Startup Reach in Villages

The Rural iStart Programme is being run to expand the reach and impact of the startup ecosystem in rural Rajasthan. The aim is to bring transformation in agriculture and rural development sectors. Under this programme, more than 800 rural startups have registered on the portal so far.