Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{183992,
        author = {Mrs. Ranjana Gogate and Dr Sonali Parchure},
        title = {Assessing the Role of DPIIT Recognition and Government Funding Mechanisms in Startup Sustainability: Evidence from Pune’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {3},
        pages = {3793-3809},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=183992},
        abstract = {Start-ups are increasingly recognized as engines of innovation, economic growth, and job creation in India. In this context, government-led initiatives—such as the Startup India Scheme, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), and various state-level mechanisms—have aimed to provide early-stage enterprises with accessible financial and non- financial support. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognition has emerged as a critical gateway to such benefits. This study assesses the effectiveness of government financing schemes and the role of DPIIT recognition in enhancing startup sustainability, with evidence drawn from Pune’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Adopting a descriptive research design, primary data were collected from 93 startups representing sectors such as IT, FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, EduTech, and retail. Stratified random sampling was employed, and statistical analyses, including ANOVA, Chi-square, correlation, regression, and factor analysis, were conducted.
Findings reveal that while government schemes are perceived as clear and fairly accessible, funding adequacy varies across sectors, indicating a need for industry-specific financial packages. DPIIT recognition significantly influences both funding access and non-financial benefits—such as mentorship, IPR facilitation, and compliance support—across all sectors, with regression results confirming its substantial impact on operational scalability. However, procedural delays, compliance complexity, and limited sector-focused mentoring remain challenges. The study concludes that while India’s startup support framework is largely equitable, enhancing flexibility through streamlined processes, digitization, sector-sensitive funding, and targeted capacity-building could substantially strengthen sustainability outcomes. These insights offer actionable recommendations for policymakers, funding agencies, and entrepreneurs aiming to optimize the public support ecosystem for startups.},
        keywords = {Startup India, DPIIT Recognition, Government Funding Schemes, Startup Sustainability, Pune Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.},
        month = {August},
        }