The 'Ignite Startups' mentorship program, which intends to ignite the Indian tech startup ecosystem, was announced by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC).

Innovative tech startups can now apply for a package that includes funding, global exposure, and mentoring support from ESC and startup accelerator Marwari Catalysts (MCats).

Veer Sagar, Chairman of ESC, stated, "This program is packed with transformative elements that can elevate the startup ecosystem to new heights."

Sushil Sharma, the CEO and founder of MCats, has been appointed as the Chief Mentor for both the ESC startup program and the startup pavilion at INDIASOFT 2025, the International IT Exhibition and Conference, which takes place in March 2025.

A funding budget of 3.5 crore ( 35 million) has been set aside by MCats through this partnership to support 10 to 12 carefully chosen tech startups.

The Founder and CEO of MCats, Sushil Sharma, stated "This financial lifeline will catapult startups into the fast lane, helping them bring innovative solutions to market."

The ESC's Executive Director, Gurmeet Singh, noted that the selected startups will have free exhibit space at the MCats Pavilion during INDIASOFT 2025, which is set for March 19–21, 2025, in New Delhi.

He continued, "This event offers startups an unmatched platform to showcase their innovations on the global stage, with over 700 global buyers from more than 70 countries expected."

A range of networking opportunities, pitching sessions, mentoring workshops, and international exposure, including at INDIASOFT, will be extended to the chosen startups. These events are intended to offer insights and guidance. Additionally, they will receive 5 lakh in 'Tools to Scale' credits from major tech companies like Google, IBM, Zoho, and AWS, among others.