The Bharat Project, a national initiative by YourStory, aimed at empowering 1 million entrepreneurs from Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural India.
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, April 21, 2025: In a landmark step towards building an inclusive entrepreneurial
ecosystem, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal today launched The Bharat
Project, a bold national initiative by YourStory, aimed at empowering 1 million entrepreneurs from
Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural India. The Bharat Project brings together the government, ecosystem
enablers, creators, and communities to unlock grassroots potential and make access to
entrepreneurial tools, education, and funding easier for everyone.
Built on five key pillars, the Bharat Project will aid entrepreneurs through - Co-Pilot for
Entrepreneurs—an AI-powered mobile-first platform that offers startup guidance, learning
resources, mentorship access, and success stories in both Hindi and English, Education &
Upskilling, which will drive state-level and district-level activations and WhatsApp-based
learning to help young people learn how to start and grow their businesses, Bharat
Ideathon, - a nationwide challenge that will find great business ideas from over 1,000
districts and help top founders with mentorship and visibility, BharatSparks - a launchpad
where selected entrepreneurs from smaller towns will get a chance to pitch to investors,
win grants, and build long-term support and Shuru-kar - a 7-part web documentary series
that will showcase real startup stories from across regions, featuring innovators, investors,
and policymakers.
Speaking at the launch, Hon’ble Minister Shri Piyush Goyal said, “India is on an irreversible
path to becoming an economic powerhouse. From a $4 trillion economy today, we are
poised to grow 8x to $30–35 trillion by 2047. It’s a strategic roadmap built to support
startups across sectors, empowering first-generation entrepreneurs, and a government-
backed seed fund of ₹10,000 crore to democratize innovation.
He further added, the launch of The Bharat Project is a bold step forward that brings
together technology, mentorship, and funding to help entrepreneurs from every corner of
the country rise. India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is not just evolving, it is becoming the
engine of inclusive and sustained national growth. The goal is clear: empower youth, support
startups, and make sure every aspiring entrepreneur has the ecosystem they need to start,
scale,and succeed.
The initiative comes at a time when 65% of India’s population lives in Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural
areas. There are over 370 million youth between the ages of 15 and 30, and 30% of them
are NEET—meaning they’re not in education, employment, or training. Even though there is
so much potential, many of them still don’t have access to capital, mentors, or the right
exposure. The Bharat Project is here to change that—by turning isolated talent into a
strong, national movement.
“India’s future is not limited to metros. It’s brewing in the kitchens, backyards, and streets of
Bharat. The Bharat Project is a step towards ensuring that every aspiring entrepreneur has
access to resources, stories, and support to turn their idea into impact.”, said Shradha
Sharma, Founder & CEO, YourStory.
The launch event took place at Radisson Goregaon, Mumbai, and was attended by a packed
audience of founders, students, creators, and ecosystem leaders. The event also featured
startup showcases, inspiring youth stories from across Bharat, and the official unveiling of
The Bharat Project platform.
Hokar Nidar…ShuruKar.
Start bold. Start now. Start anywhere. But start.
#TheBharatProject #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #HokarNidarShuruKar #YourStory
#BharatKeBuilders
