UP Houses 18,568 Startups of Which Nearly 8,000 Women-Led: Govt

By: WE Staff | Monday, 8 December 2025

The state of Utter Pradesh currently has 18,568 active startups and approximately 8000 of them are led by women. Owing to proactive support from the government, this growth has emerged in alignment with the state’s policy for startups. The state offers mentorship, financial assistance and technical support to aspiring founders. This information was furnished by the state government on Sunday.

Noida, Greater Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur have emerged as significant hubs for technology-driven startups, according to officials, who said the state's IT and electronics policies have also given the startup ecosystem new momentum. Additionally, they stated that the government is building IT parks to attract international businesses to invest in the state.

Startup sector expert Rajat Srivastava said that owing to UP’s robust startup policy, there has been a strengthening of the startup ecosystem in the region. He expects UP to become one of India’s leading startup hubs in the years to come.

The state government is actively supporting startups in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, medical technology, blockchain, 5G, 6G, quantum computing, additive manufacturing, and space technology, with UP currently occupying a unique place in the country's startup ecosystem.

According to officials, the government's goal is to enable young people to become job creators rather than job seekers, and this change is not only accelerating economic growth but also channeling youth energy. Now, startups in industries like fintech, drones, AI, and agri-tech have established themselves in all 75 districts.

Officials also stated that the state has become the country’s fourth largest startup ecosystem. It is currently home to eight Unicorns and two potential ‘Soonicorns’, namely Plus and InShorts. Additionally, officials said that UP is also home to Minicorns, startups with valuations surpassing one million dollars, officials noted.