Piyush Goyal launches 4-digit helpline & ₹10,000 cr startup fund after remark on lack of tech focus

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday announced the launch of a dedicated Startup India desk within the ministry to support budding entrepreneurs. The desk will be accessible through a simple four-digit toll-free helpline number, available in regional languages, aimed at resolving grievances and collecting suggestions from startups to improve the ecosystem.

The announcement was made during the inauguration of the second edition of the Startup Mahakumbh at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Goyal said the helpline would serve as a single-window support system for entrepreneurs across the country. “The Government is here to support your journey, not control it,” he stated, while highlighting the Centre’s focus on facilitation over regulation.

The Minister also confirmed the approval of the second Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore. Out of this, ₹2,000 crore will be disbursed to the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) as the first instalment. Goyal stated that a significant portion of this fund will be earmarked for seed funding to support small startups and encourage deep-tech innovation.

According to Goyal, the fund will focus on startups working in high-potential sectors like artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, quantum computing, precision manufacturing, biotech, and semiconductor design. These sectors often require substantial capital and face longer gestation periods, which the fund aims to address through early-stage financial support.

He further urged SIDBI to set up at least one support centre in every state to provide shared facilities and basic infrastructure for early-stage entrepreneurs. The minister stated that the objective is to create a pipeline of indigenous technology-driven solutions aligned with national priorities and to strengthen India’s position in the global innovation landscape.