The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025, positioning the state as a leading destination for innovation-driven growth. Formulated by the Department of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and implemented by the Maharashtra State Innovation Society, the policy outlines a five-year roadmap to nurture 1.25 million entrepreneurs and recognize 50,000 startups.
The initiative aims to build a globally competitive ecosystem rooted in inclusivity and resilience, with a focus on emerging technologies and underserved communities including urban, rural, women-led, and youth-led enterprises. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the policy as a strategic commitment to transform Maharashtra into a national and global hotspot for entrepreneurship, aligning with the state’s goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy.
A central feature of the policy is the Chief Minister’s Maha-Fund, a Rs 500 crore initiative to support 25,000 early-stage entrepreneurs selected from a pool of 500,000 youth through a rigorous three-stage process. Selected candidates will receive mentoring, incubation, and financial assistance.
To strengthen infrastructure, the government will establish micro-incubators in ITIs, polytechnics, and academic institutions, along with Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hubs in each division. These hubs will focus on high-potential sectors such as AI, Deeptech, FinTech, MedTech, Cybersecurity, and Sustainability. A 300-acre Maharashtra Innovation City will serve as a convergence zone for startups, corporates, academia, and government, fostering collaborative research and innovation.
Startups selected through Maharashtra Startup Week will be eligible to work directly with government departments and receive pilot work orders of up to Rs 2.5 million. The policy also provides financial reimbursements for patent filings, product certifications, and participation in exhibitions. Startups with confirmed work orders from credible clients, including public agencies, will be eligible for loan assistance through a dedicated mechanism facilitated by financial institutions.
To ensure effective implementation, the policy introduces a governance framework anchored by a General Body chaired by the Chief Minister and a Governing Council. Each state department will allocate 0.5 percent of its annual outlay to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, with all schemes routed through the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.
Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Verma highlighted that Maharashtra already leads India’s startup landscape with over 30,000 DPIIT-recognized startups. The new policy aims to accelerate and expand this momentum by offering online mentoring platforms, AI-focused data repositories, simplified access to financial and technical support, and sector-specific regional hubs.
She emphasized that the policy is not merely incentive-driven but a strategic move to support innovators and build meaningful solutions. With cohesive governance and representation from all major departments, Maharashtra is poised to become a preferred destination for investors and innovators.
