DPIIT joins hands with Hero Moto and Zepto to back early-stage startups

Support for early-stage startups

In major tie ups to help early-stage startups scale up, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed an MoU with leading two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp to support budding enterprises focused on the future of mobility, along with a pact with quick commerce and online delivery platform Zepto in the manufacturing sector.

DPIIT Joint Secretary said support from unicorns is one of the most impactful ways to uplift startups, as they gain from the journey of successful ventures.

The partnership with Hero Moto will provide selected startups with exclusive access to the two-wheeler maker's research and development facilities in Germany and India, along with dealership network, and mentorship. Selected startups will get the chance to work on paid Proofs of Concept (PoCs) to gain exposure that could accelerate growth and visibility for them. The DPIIT said support for product-focused startups solving India’s mobility challenges will get a boost for this tie up, fast-tracking their journey 'from idea to impact'.

The MoU will focus on startups that are especially working on emerging technologies, along with the ones in the Tier II, III markets. Pawan Munjal, Hero Moto's Executive Chairman said a vibrant startup ecosystem is 'vital' for self-reliance and globally competitiveness.

The Zepto partnership will provide support through mentorship and capacity building through workshops guided by experts, along with Startup India assistance. The programme will focus on women-led and Tier II/III startups, Commerce Ministry said. Aside of that, Zepto will integrate over 100 startups into its supply chain and offer them a platform to showcase products and gain market access.

Zepto's co-founder Kaivalya Vohra said the partnership will back startups in manufacturing through the Zepto Nova programme. The quick commerce platform will help startups in hardware, IoT, packaging and sustainable manufacturing by helping them graduate from prototype to market-ready solutions.