Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched a new initiative, 'Startups for All', through its Centre for Research on Startups and Risk Financing (CREST), to democratize access to critical information about India's startup ecosystem.

Developed in collaboration with YNOS, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, the initiative was launched by Tamil Nadu IT and Digital Services Minister Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan during the 'TN Global Startup Summit'. It aims to provide open access to comprehensive, verified data for entrepreneurs, investors, students, and other stakeholders.

The platform, described as India's largest digital database on startups, features information on over 2.75 lakh startups, 15,000 angel investors, 5,500 venture capital firms, 1,400 incubators, 800 banks, and 110 government schemes. It also offers tools for investor recommendations, analytics, and customized outreach.

Prof. Thillai Rajan A., Head of CREST, said the initiative addresses “information asymmetry,” a key barrier in the ecosystem, by giving all citizens—regardless of background—equal access to startup data. Users can explore the platform freely with initial credits and continue under a pay-as-you-go model, enabling wider participation from smaller towns and emerging entrepreneurs.