AUGUST 20258TWHAT A DECADE AND $150 BILLION REVEAL ABOUT THE INDIAN STARTUP LANDSCAPEBy M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent, Startupcity Columnhe Indian tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem has experienced a massive shift in last ten years, remodelling the story of Indian wealth and innovation. With over $150 billion dollars in venture capital, the rise of more than a hundred unicorns, and almost 1.85 lakhs startups identified by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world outpacing established giants and changing the perception of the world. Such a surging growth is fuelled by a combination of aggressive policy changes, digital infrastructure breakthroughs, youthful and ambitious talent base and healthy investor demand. But what exactly propelled this meteoric rise and what does this momentum mean for India's future as a global innovation powerhouse?A Decade of Funding Fueling GrowthIndian firms and growth companies raised over 150 billion dollars between 2016 and mid 2025 according to government comments such as those of the Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Such an influx has fuelled growth across industries, produced approximately 1.66 million direct employment opportunities, and will help
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