Tamil Nadu aims to become a global startup hub by 2032: CM Stalin

chennai: tamil nadu chief minister m.k. stalin said the state is determined to emerge as one of the world's leading startup hubs by 2032, driven by inclusive and innovation-led entrepreneurship that reflects the dravidian model of social justice.speaking at the inaugural session of the tamil nadu global startup summit (tngss) 2025, organised by startuptn, stalin said the summit marks a “major milestone” in building a world-class startup ecosystem. the event, one of india's largest, brings together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, and policymakers from more than 40 countries.“our dravidian model government envisions a startup movement that reaches everyone — women, youth, marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, and transgender persons alike. social justice in startup policy is the hallmark of our approach,” stalin said.highlighting the state's industrial and startup growth, he said the number of startups registered on the union government's platform rose sixfold in four years—from 2,032 to over 12,000, nearly half of them led by women. tamil nadu, which ranked low for startup infrastructure in 2018, rose to the top position by 2022, with chennai now ranked 18th in asia for startup ecosystems, according to the global startup ecosystem report 2024.stalin said the investment-raising capacity of tamil nadu startups grew from usd 1 million in 2016 to usd 6 million in 2024. between fy 2020 and fy 2025, dpiit-recognised startups recorded a 36 per cent compound annual growth rate—three times the national average. chennai is also emerging as a deeptech hub, with a 66 per cent growth rate in investment value between 2021 and 2024.to ensure inclusive growth, the government established 11 regional hubs, enabling startups outside metro cities. early-stage startups receive support under the tamil nadu startup seed grant (tanseed) scheme, with women entrepreneurs getting 50 per cent additional funding. equity investments are also provided to startups led by scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, alongside mentoring and training.the tanfund platform connects startups with investors, through which ₹129.24 crore has been raised. initiatives such as the periyar social justice venture lab, 'thozhili' workshops, and 'startup in every village' expand entrepreneurship to rural and marginalized communities.stalin announced a ₹100 crore co-creation fund, to be managed by startuptn, which will invest in venture capital funds supporting tamil nadu-based startups. “this will create new venture capital firms and attract leading global investment houses,” he said.the summit also featured the release of the vision 2035 roadmap and research reports by startup genome and inc42, highlighting tamil nadu's decade-long startup strategy. multiple memorandums of understanding (mous) were signed with international and domestic organisations including asiaberlin (germany), santa clara university (usa), link innovations (france), and startup bodies from canada, south korea, and the philippines.over 250 delegates from 40 countries participated, with 21 countries setting up dedicated pavilions. investor meet-ups, masterclasses by global companies such as google, meta, microsoft, and phonepe, and exhibitions showcasing student innovations were held.stalin said the event underscores tamil nadu's strong governance and conducive business environment. “industrialists choose states that ensure peace and law and order. events like this show that tamil nadu is a place where industries can operate with complete peace of mind,” he said.concluding his address, stalin said, “through sustained efforts and inclusive policies, we are building not just an economy of innovation, but a society of opportunity.”