Chennai, 4 October (H.S.) : The Tamil Nadu government is focusing on accelerating the growth of its thriving startup ecosystem—currently valued at over $28 billion and expanding at an annual rate of 23%—by hosting the Tamil Nadu Global Startup Summit 2025.
The event is set to be the State’s first global-format gathering, taking place on October 9 and 10 at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore. The main purpose of the summit is to connect the local ecosystem with the global one, moving beyond domestic recognition to focus on scale, capital, and international partnerships.
The summit, which will feature over 750 stalls, more than 100 investors, and participation from over 30 countries, is being organised by StartupTN, the State’s nodal agency. Sivaraja Ramanathan, CEO of StartupTN, explained that the goal is to help local startups see opportunities beyond their immediate markets by facilitating interaction with central and state government agencies and international stakeholders. He highlighted that the number of registered startups in the state has grown from just over 2,000 in 2021 to over 12,000 today, demonstrating a shift in mindset.
Ramanathan stated that the event is designed to be highly outcome-driven, with expectations of hosting over 500 structured one-on-one meetings between startups and mentors or investors. In the last six months, StartupTN has already facilitated about ₹120 crore in funding through curated connections, a figure the summit is expected to significantly push higher. To enhance networking, a new AI-enabled mobile app is being introduced. This app will match participants (startups, investors, mentors, academics) based on their profiles and specific needs, such as an agritech founder looking for investors in that sector.
Confirming the international interest, around 220 stakeholders from 30 countries—including universities, incubators, and investors—have confirmed attendance, offering local startups direct pathways to understand expansion requirements and secure grants overseas. This effort is directly tied to Chief Minister MK Stalin’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with the vision for Tamil Nadu to be among the top 20 startup ecosystems globally.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
