Symposium on Building a Startup Ecosystem for Scheduled Tribes

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, organized a landmark Symposium on the Development of Startup Ecosystem among Scheduled Tribes, bringing together major Venture Capitalists and Impact Investors to discuss strategies for empowering tribal entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive growth.

To kickstart this transformative initiative, MoTA has undertaken extensive brainstorming sessions with premier institutions such as IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited, Delhi and industry associations to ensure a grassroot-level impact. A significant step in this direction was the initiation of a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among Scheduled Tribes and fostering innovation at the community level.

In alignment with this vision, the symposium, held in Delhi on 28th January 2025, provided a platform for thought leaders and stakeholders to explore approaches for uplifting tribal entrepreneurs and catalyzing investments in tribal-led startups.

Key Recommendations from the Symposium:

  1. Strengthen Supply Chains: Build quality tribal enterprises that are investment-ready.
  2. Grassroot Training Programs: Conduct targeted capacity-building programs at the village level.
  3. Institutional Frameworks: Develop streamlined, inclusive, and institutionalized frameworks for startups to thrive.
  4. Public Market Access: Create pathways for tribal enterprises to access public markets.
  5. Inclusive Business Models: Encourage partnerships between tribal and metro entrepreneurs, ensuring no restrictions on holding patterns.
  6. Microfund Support: Establish micro funds for incubation-stage startups and collaborate with smaller VCs for scaling.
  7. Sectoral Focus: Identify specific industries with high potential for tribal empowerment and innovation, such as agriculture, handicrafts, and sustainable development.
  8. Support for Sunrise Sectors: Promote Fund of Funds (FOF) models to channel investments into innovative and impactful sectors.

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