Qatar and India are deepening their startup ties with a shared ambition to co-create the next wave of unicorns and “soonicorns”, as both nations shift from transactional investment to strategic innovation diplomacy.
In a presentation delivered on the sidelines of the ‘Qatar-India Joint Business Council’ meeting held in Doha recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) underscored the role of its ‘Startup India’ initiative in creating a robust ecosystem for startups.
“Our startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators are the bridge that will take this partnership to the next level,” the DPIIT stated, adding that the Startup India initiative “empowered India's youth to choose the path of becoming job creators rather than job seekers.”
Launched in 2016 under the vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Startup India has become “one of the world’s most recognised entrepreneurship programmes” owing to its funding support, simplification of processes, and incubation, the DPIIT pointed out.
“From 400 startups in 2016 to more than 189,000 in 2025, India stands as the third largest startup ecosystem globally. With 123 unicorns, $364bn in cumulative funding, and 194mn jobs created, the India startup ecosystem story is one of resilience, scale, and global ambition,” the DPIIT emphasised.
The DPIIT also said startups under the initiative “are redefining industries,” whether it is the Industry 4.0, EVs, semiconductors, health tech, agri-tech, or fintech. “They are solving global challenges and creating globally scalable solutions. This offers immense opportunities for Indian and Qatari innovators to co-create and expand,” the DPIIT noted.
In life sciences alone, the DPIIT stated that India hosts “over 7,000” startups and ranks among the “top 12” global hubs, with a projected market size of $300bn by 2030. It also pointed out that India’s strength in genetics and vaccines “makes it among the globe’s top hubs.”
The DPIIT stated: “For Qatar, this opens doors to co-invest in cutting-edge technologies, strengthen pharma supply chains, and collaborate on clinical research. In fintech, India’s more than 4,000 startups power more than 12mn UPI transactions monthly. Qatar can integrate with this ecosystem, bringing Islamic finance and wealth-tech innovations into play.”
The DPIIT also flagged proptech as a “high-potential area,” with India’s smart housing push creating avenues for Qatar to co-develop digital real estate platforms and smart cities. “More than 100 corporates” are actively engaging with Indian startups, while “over 250” have benefitted from $8.21mn in incubation and mentorship support, it also stated.
Moreover, the DPIIT stated that India has built a strong soft landing platform with more than 40 partner countries, enabling over 200 global programmes and benefiting more than 860 startups through 21 international bridges and two strategic alliances.
“Our entrepreneurs are gaining exposure to new markets, potential customers and strategic partnerships. These bridges are not just pathways; they are accelerators, helping Indian startups scale their innovation beyond national borders,” the DPIIT also stated.
According to the DPIIT, Indian startups are now present across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with DPIIT-recognised firms recently showcased at Web Summit Qatar.
“A landmark moment came in August when a high-powered Qatari delegation engaged with 30 of India’s top unicorns and ‘soonicorns’. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) reaffirmed its $10bn commitment to India, highlighting sustainable and future-ready investments.
“Looking ahead, India and Qatar have vast synergies,” the DPIIT noted, citing fintech, green energy, logistics, mobility and deep tech. “Together, we can redefine food security, maritime trade, smart mobility, and even carbon-neutral air travel,” it stated.
With nearly half its population under 25 and over 270mn digital users, India was described as “a young digital nation” poised for global leadership. In 2025 alone, Indian startups accounted for “22%” of global IPOs, with over 60 listings.
The DPIIT added: Our startups are maturing with more than 60 IPOs in 2025 alone, accounting for 22% of global IPOs. Early investors have reaped significant returns, reinforcing India's and the world's most profitable venture markets.
“Policy tailwinds like reverse flipping provisions and strong regulatory support make India a global hub for innovation today. The India-Qatar partnership is not just about investments, but about shaping the future of global entrepreneurship.”
In a presentation delivered on the sidelines of the ‘Qatar-India Joint Business Council’ meeting held in Doha recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) underscored the role of its ‘Startup India’ initiative in creating a robust ecosystem for startups.
“Our startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators are the bridge that will take this partnership to the next level,” the DPIIT stated, adding that the Startup India initiative “empowered India's youth to choose the path of becoming job creators rather than job seekers.”
Launched in 2016 under the vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Startup India has become “one of the world’s most recognised entrepreneurship programmes” owing to its funding support, simplification of processes, and incubation, the DPIIT pointed out.
“From 400 startups in 2016 to more than 189,000 in 2025, India stands as the third largest startup ecosystem globally. With 123 unicorns, $364bn in cumulative funding, and 194mn jobs created, the India startup ecosystem story is one of resilience, scale, and global ambition,” the DPIIT emphasised.
The DPIIT also said startups under the initiative “are redefining industries,” whether it is the Industry 4.0, EVs, semiconductors, health tech, agri-tech, or fintech. “They are solving global challenges and creating globally scalable solutions. This offers immense opportunities for Indian and Qatari innovators to co-create and expand,” the DPIIT noted.
In life sciences alone, the DPIIT stated that India hosts “over 7,000” startups and ranks among the “top 12” global hubs, with a projected market size of $300bn by 2030. It also pointed out that India’s strength in genetics and vaccines “makes it among the globe’s top hubs.”
The DPIIT stated: “For Qatar, this opens doors to co-invest in cutting-edge technologies, strengthen pharma supply chains, and collaborate on clinical research. In fintech, India’s more than 4,000 startups power more than 12mn UPI transactions monthly. Qatar can integrate with this ecosystem, bringing Islamic finance and wealth-tech innovations into play.”
The DPIIT also flagged proptech as a “high-potential area,” with India’s smart housing push creating avenues for Qatar to co-develop digital real estate platforms and smart cities. “More than 100 corporates” are actively engaging with Indian startups, while “over 250” have benefitted from $8.21mn in incubation and mentorship support, it also stated.
Moreover, the DPIIT stated that India has built a strong soft landing platform with more than 40 partner countries, enabling over 200 global programmes and benefiting more than 860 startups through 21 international bridges and two strategic alliances.
“Our entrepreneurs are gaining exposure to new markets, potential customers and strategic partnerships. These bridges are not just pathways; they are accelerators, helping Indian startups scale their innovation beyond national borders,” the DPIIT also stated.
According to the DPIIT, Indian startups are now present across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with DPIIT-recognised firms recently showcased at Web Summit Qatar.
“A landmark moment came in August when a high-powered Qatari delegation engaged with 30 of India’s top unicorns and ‘soonicorns’. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) reaffirmed its $10bn commitment to India, highlighting sustainable and future-ready investments.
“Looking ahead, India and Qatar have vast synergies,” the DPIIT noted, citing fintech, green energy, logistics, mobility and deep tech. “Together, we can redefine food security, maritime trade, smart mobility, and even carbon-neutral air travel,” it stated.
With nearly half its population under 25 and over 270mn digital users, India was described as “a young digital nation” poised for global leadership. In 2025 alone, Indian startups accounted for “22%” of global IPOs, with over 60 listings.
The DPIIT added: Our startups are maturing with more than 60 IPOs in 2025 alone, accounting for 22% of global IPOs. Early investors have reaped significant returns, reinforcing India's and the world's most profitable venture markets.
“Policy tailwinds like reverse flipping provisions and strong regulatory support make India a global hub for innovation today. The India-Qatar partnership is not just about investments, but about shaping the future of global entrepreneurship.”