India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed tremendous growth over the past decade, making the country the third-largest startup hub globally.
By 2025, the momentum will be stronger than ever, driven by government initiatives, investor interest, and rising entrepreneurial spirit.
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Startup Cities in India (2025)
We dug deep and explored the top 10 fastest-growing startup cities in India, highlighting the total number of registered startups, industry categories, total funding acquired, unicorn counts, average employees per startup, and overall employment generation.
| City Name | Total Registered Startups | Unicorns | Total Funding Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Bengaluru | 14,000+ | 45+ | $120 billion |
| #2. Delhi-NCR | 12,500+ | 35+ | $85 billion |
| #3. Mumbai | 9,500+ | 25+ | $60 billion |
| #4. Hyderabad | 6,500+ | 12+ | $30 billion |
| #5. Chennai | 5,000+ | 10+ | $20 billion |
| #6. Pune | 4,200+ | 8+ | $15 billion |
| #7. Ahmedabad | 3,000+ | 5+ | $8 billion |
| #8, Kolkata | 2,800+ | 4+ | $7 billion |
| #9. Kochi | 2,500+ | 2+ | $5 billion |
| #10. Jaipur | 2,300+ | 2+ | $4 billion |
Let’s look at the numbers of each city.
1. Bengaluru (The Silicon Valley of India)
Bengaluru, often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of India,” is a tech and innovation powerhouse.
The city boasts world-class incubators, a deep investor network, and access to top tech talent from premier institutions.
The startup-friendly policies and robust infrastructure make Bengaluru a global startup destination.
- Total Registered Startups: 14,000+
- Key Industries: Information Technology (IT), SaaS, Fintech, Edtech, E-commerce
- Total Funding Acquired: $120 billion
- Unicorns: 45+
- Average Employees per Startup: 150
- Employment Created: Over 2 million jobs (approx.)
Bengaluru’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| Flipkart |
|
2007 | $37.6 billion |
| Byju’s | Byju Raveendran | 2011 | $22 billion |
| Swiggy |
|
2014 | $10 billion |
| Razorpay |
|
2014 | $7.5 billion |
2. Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region)
Delhi-NCR, encompassing Gurugram, Noida, and New Delhi, benefits from its proximity to policymaking hubs and a cosmopolitan workforce.
The region is known for fintech giants and unicorns in e-commerce and hospitality, backed by strong government support and private incubators.
- Total Registered Startups: 12,500+
- Key Industries: Fintech, Healthtech, Logistics, Consumer Services
- Total Funding Acquired: $85 billion
- Unicorns: 35+
- Average Employees per Startup: 120
- Employment Created: 1.8 million jobs (approx.)
Delhi-NCR’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| Paytm | Vijay Shekhar Sharma | 2010 | $16 billion |
| Zomato | Deepinder Goyal, Pankaj Chaddah | 2008 | $9 billion |
| OYO | Ritesh Agarwal | 2013 | $10 billion |
3. Mumbai (The Financial Capital of India)
Mumbai’s dynamic financial sector provides a strong backbone for fintech innovations.
Mumbai is a city known for Bollywood. A quick fact, Mumbai produces more than 1,000 feature films each year, making it the world’s largest film industry.
The city is also home to thriving consumer brands and entertainment tech startups.
With a well-established investor ecosystem and corporate partnerships, Mumbai stands out as a startup hub.
- Total Registered Startups: 9,500+
- Key Industries: Fintech, MediaTech, Insurtech, Entertainment
- Total Funding Acquired: $60 billion
- Unicorns: 25+
- Average Employees per Startup: 140
- Employment Created: 1.5 million jobs
Mumbai’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| CRED | Kunal Shah | 2018 | $6.4 billion |
| Nykaa | Falguni Nayar | 2012 | $4 billion |
| Dream11 | Harsh Jain, Bhavit Sheth | 2008 | $8 billion |
4. Hyderabad (The Deep Tech Hub)
Hyderabad’s HITEC City and T-Hub have positioned it as a hub for deep tech and AI/ML startups.
The city offers affordable infrastructure and a supportive ecosystem, attracting innovation in AI, healthcare, and enterprise tech.
- Total Registered Startups: 6,500+
- Key Industries: Healthtech, Deep Tech, AI & ML, Agritech
- Total Funding Acquired: $30 billion
- Unicorns: 12+
- Average Employees per Startup: 100
- Employment Created: 900,000 jobs
Hyderabad’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| Zenoti | Sudheer Koneru | 2010 | $1.5 billion |
| Darwinbox | Chaitanya Peddi, Jayant Paleti | 2015 | $1 billion |
5. Chennai (The SaaS Capital)
Chennai has emerged as India’s SaaS powerhouse, thanks to startups like Freshworks and Zoho.
The city’s engineering talent and cost-effective environment make it an ideal base for global SaaS and automotive innovations.
- Total Registered Startups: 5,000+
- Key Industries: SaaS, Automotive Tech, Robotics, Manufacturing Tech
- Total Funding Acquired: $20 billion
- Unicorns: 10+
- Average Employees per Startup: 90
- Employment Created: 600,000 jobs (approx.)
Chennai’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| Freshworks | Girish Mathrubootham | 2010 | $10 billion |
| Zoho | Sridhar Vembu | 1996 | $5 billion |
6. Pune
Pune’s proximity to industrial hubs and renowned academic institutions has spurred enterprise tech and edtech startups.
With lower operational costs, Pune remains a preferred choice for growing tech businesses.
- Total Registered Startups: 4,200+
- Key Industries: Edtech, Manufacturing, AI/ML, Enterprise Tech
- Total Funding Acquired: $15 billion
- Unicorns: 8+
- Average Employees per Startup: 85
- Employment Created: 450,000 jobs (approx.)
Pune’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| FirstCry | Supam Maheshwari | 2010 | $2.1 billion |
| MindTickle | Krishna Depura | 2011 | $1.2 billion |
7. Ahmedabad (The Agritech and Fintech Innovator)
Ahmedabad’s strong entrepreneurial culture and government-backed incubators have made it a key center for agritech and fintech.
The city’s startups are solving critical issues in finance and agriculture with scalable solutions.
- Total Registered Startups: 3,000+
- Key Industries: Fintech, Clean Tech, Agritech, Food Tech
- Total Funding Acquired: $8 billion
- Unicorns: 5+
- Average Employees per Startup: 70
- Employment Created: 300,000 jobs (approx.)
Ahmedabad’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| Lendingkart | Harshvardhan Lunia | 2014 | $1.5 billion |
| AgroStar | Shardul Sheth | 2013 | $1 billion |
8. Kolkata (The Emerging E-commerce Hub)
Kolkata’s e-commerce and logistics sectors have seen significant growth, driven by local talent and strategic investments.
The city is also emerging as a key player in fintech and education tech.
- Total Registered Startups: 2,800+
- Key Industries: E-commerce, Fintech, Edtech, Logistics
- Total Funding Acquired: $7 billion
- Unicorns: 4+
- Average Employees per Startup: 75
- Employment Created: 280,000 jobs (approx.)
Kolkata’s Notable Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Category |
| Wow! Momo | Sagar Daryani, Binod Homagai | 2008 | Foodtech |
| iMerit | Radha Basu | 2012 | AI/Data Annotation |
| StockEdge | Vineet Patawari, Vivek Bajaj | 2016 | Fintech |
9. Kochi (The Marine and Travel Tech Hub)
Kochi’s strategic location as a coastal city has fostered innovations in marine tech and travel tech.
With strong government support through the Kerala Startup Mission, the city is building a reputation as an innovation hub.
- Total Registered Startups: 2,500+
- Key Industries: Marine Tech, Travel Tech, Healthtech
- Total Funding Acquired: $5 billion
- Unicorns: 2+
- Average Employees per Startup: 60
- Employment Created: 200,000 jobs
Kochi’s Notable Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Category |
| CareStack | Abhilash Krishna | 2015 | Healthtech |
| FlockForge | Team of Founders | 2017 | SaaS |
| Agrima Infotech | Lijois, K.J. | 2011 | AI/Computer Vision |
10. Jaipur (The Cultural Startup Hub)
Jaipur (also known as the Pink City) combines low operational costs with a growing pool of skilled workers.
The city is particularly strong in consumer tech and fintech and has earned its place on the startup map with creative, culture-driven innovations.
- Total Registered Startups: 2,300+
- Key Industries: Fintech, Consumer Tech, Handicrafts Tech, E-commerce
- Total Funding Acquired: $4 billion
- Unicorns: 2+
- Average Employees per Startup: 65
- Employment Created: 180,000 jobs
Jaipur’s Notable Unicorn Startups
| Startup Name | Founder(s) | Year Founded | Valuation |
| CarDekho |
|
2008 | $1.2 billion |
Must Read: India Vision 2047: Risks, Opportunities, and Innovation
Conclusion
India’s startup ecosystem continues to surge, with new cities making their mark each year.
From SaaS giants in Chennai to deep tech hubs in Hyderabad, the landscape is as diverse as it is dynamic.
With government initiatives like Startup India, increased access to funding, and a robust talent pool, India is set to further cement its position as a global innovation powerhouse.
+ References
- Startup India Reports (DPIIT) – startupindia.gov.in
- NASSCOM Insights – Access Insights
- Tracxn Database – Visit Database
- Inc42 Startup Tracker – Check Tracker
- YourStory – yourstory.com
