The Bharat Project
| The Bharat Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mission statement | होकर निडर... "शुरू कर" |
| Location | India |
| Owner | YourStory |
| Key people | Shradha Sharma (Founder and CEO, YourStory) |
| Established | April 2025 |
| Website | yourstory |
The Bharat Project is an initiative launched by YourStory, an Indian media platform focused on entrepreneurship and startups, in April 2025. The project aims to empower 1 million entrepreneurs from Tier II and III cities and rural areas of India by providing access to funding, mentorship, and technology resources, including AI-powered tools. It seeks to address the challenges faced by founders in these regions, where approximately 65% of India's population resides, by fostering a national movement to support grassroots innovation and economic development.[1][2]
Background
India's Tier II and III cities and rural areas have seen a surge in entrepreneurial activity, driven by increasing access to digital infrastructure, startup ecosystems, and government initiatives like Startup India. Over 40% of India’s 180,000+ DPIIT-recognized startups originate from these regions, yet entrepreneurs often face barriers such as limited access to venture capital, mentorship, and technological resources.[3] The Bharat Project was conceived to bridge this gap, leveraging AI, regional storytelling, and incubator support to create a cohesive national movement for innovation.[1][4]
Key Initiatives
The Bharat Project includes several programs designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs:
- Bharat Ideathon: A nationwide challenge that scouts promising business ideas from over 1,000 districts across India. Participants receive mentorship and visibility to refine and promote their ideas, fostering innovation at the grassroots level.[1][2]
- BharatSparks: A national launchpad where selected entrepreneurs from Tier II and III cities pitch their startups to investors, access grants, and build long-term support systems through incubator networks.[1]
- Co-Pilot for Entrepreneurs: An AI-powered, mobile-first platform offering startup guidance, learning resources, and mentorship access in Hindi and English, aimed at democratizing entrepreneurial education.[2]
- Bihar Idea Festival: Launched in June 2025 in collaboration with the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), and TiE Patna, this initiative aims to create and support 10,000 grassroots startups across 38 districts of Bihar. The festival includes the Bihar Ideas Yatra, a 45-day journey to spark entrepreneurship in rural areas.[5][6]
Partnerships
The Bharat Project has forged strategic partnerships to amplify its impact. In June 2025, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to foster inclusive entrepreneurship through AI-driven tools, venture launchpads, and regional storytelling.[4][7] The MoU was signed by DPIIT Deputy Secretary Rajesh Kumar and Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory.[7] Additional collaborations include the Bihar Idea Festival with the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, CIMP, and TiE Patna, focusing on grassroots ecosystems.[5] The project also partners with incubators like Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Centre (MAGIC) to support entrepreneurs in underserved regions.[1]
Impact
The Bharat Project aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for entrepreneurs in India’s Tier II, III, and rural regions. By providing access to mentorship, funding, and AI-driven tools, it empowers individuals to transform business ideas into impactful startups. Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory, emphasized that the initiative is a step toward ensuring every aspiring entrepreneur, regardless of location, has the resources to succeed.[1] The project aligns with India’s broader vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, contributing to inclusive economic growth and positioning India as a global innovation hub.[7][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sharma, Shradha (2025-04-19). "Piyush Goyal launches The Bharat Project, a YourStory initiative". YourStory. YourStory Media Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 ANI (2025-04-23). "Minister Piyush Goyal Launches the Bharat Project to Create 1 Million Entrepreneurs Across India". The Tribune. BusinessWire India. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "India Hits 1.80 Lakh Startups: Historic Milestone in Global Innovation Race". TICE News. The Startup Story. 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) inks Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private digital platform to boost inclusive entrepreneurship Across India". IBEF. India Brand Equity Foundation. 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sharma, Shradha (2025-06-13). "Bihar launches ambitious initiative to support 10,000 startups from the state". YourStory. YourStory Media Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ "Bihar Ideas Yatra – A Bold 45-Day Journey to Spark Startups across Rural Bihar". India Education Diary. India Education Diary. 2025-06-14. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "DPIIT partners with digital platform YourStory to empower 1 million entrepreneurs under Bharat Project". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-06-30.