Two-Year Collaboration to Bring Mentorship, Incubation, Training and Seed Funding Opportunities to Founders Beyond Metro Cities
PhysicsWallah’s entrepreneurship initiative, PW School of Startups (PW SoS), has signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Startup India, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by extending entrepreneurial support to founders in Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural areas.
The collaboration will combine online and residential training, product prototyping guidance, incubation infrastructure, investor access and early-stage seed capital. By bringing together PW SoS’s entrepreneurship programmes and Startup India’s nationwide network, the initiative seeks to create more opportunities for regional innovators.
Multiple Programmes to Support Founders at Different Stages
Under the partnership, PW SoS will introduce several programmes designed for entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journeys.
PW UDYAMI will offer a 90-day live online training programme, followed by one year of mentorship, particularly for entrepreneurs from smaller towns and rural communities. Meanwhile, Aarambh Immersion will provide a five-day residential experience focused on prototype development, pitch preparation and networking.
For established ventures, the Growth Stage CEO Programme will support 200 DPIIT-recognised startups through four hybrid cohorts, helping founders prepare for growth-stage fundraising. A six-month PW DeepTech Accelerator will provide specialised support to selected deep-tech ventures.
Early-stage innovators will also have access to proof-of-concept opportunities, corporate pilots and seed investment through initiatives such as the National AI Startup Challenge and SeedX. Incubation support and seed grants will be facilitated through the StartinUP Business Incubation Centre hosted by PW SoS.
Building Opportunities Beyond Metro Cities
Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary at DPIIT, said the partnership would help grassroots innovators access resources, mentorship and infrastructure needed to build scalable, job-creating businesses.
Rounaq Mustafa, Head of PW School of Startups, highlighted the importance of making knowledge, mentorship and funding accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs across Bharat.
PW School of Startups’ Growing Incubation Network
PhysicsWallah launched its School of Startups in August 2024 with programmes including Aarambh, Prarambh and Hopes Alive, alongside a ₹100 crore fund intended to support more than 100 startups.
In March 2026, PW SoS was accredited as an incubator under the Uttar Pradesh government's StartinUP initiative. It operates incubation centres in Noida and Lucknow, offering support across product validation, go-to-market planning, early-stage capital, mentorship and team building.
The company had also partnered with Startup India and DPIIT for the PW AI Startup Challenge 2026, committing up to ₹10 crore for AI-focused startups and student innovators.
Strengthening India’s Regional Startup Ecosystem
The partnership comes as India’s startup ecosystem continues to expand beyond major metropolitan centres. According to DPIIT data cited in the report, around 52% of recognised startups are based in non-metro cities. The collaboration aims to help more entrepreneurs in these regions access the support required to turn ideas into sustainable businesses.
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