New Delhi, 18 October (H.S.): The Delhi government has approved the establishment of the ‘Go-Delhi Foundation’ to promote startups, innovation and entrepreneurship in the national capital. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The foundation will be established as a non-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, and will function under the Delhi government’s Department of Industries. Through this initiative, the government aims to create a structured pathway for turning ideas into products, research into enterprises, and startups into established businesses.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative was intended to strengthen the startup and innovation ecosystem in Delhi while providing integrated support to young people, researchers and entrepreneurs seeking to transform their ideas into practical products and successful ventures. She added that the government had committed an initial budget allocation of Rs 50 crore for the foundation.

CM Rekha Gupta said the initiative marked an important step towards bringing together Delhi’s existing entrepreneurial potential, educational institutions and research facilities. She noted that approximately 21,000 startups in Delhi were recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Through the Go-Delhi Foundation, the government intends to bring these capabilities onto a common platform, with a focus on nurturing new enterprises, attracting investment and generating employment opportunities.

The foundation will help startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) gain access to product engineering services, prototyping facilities, laboratories and testing infrastructure. It will also provide technical guidance, mentorship, incubation support, business assistance and opportunities to connect with investors, helping entrepreneurs transform early-stage concepts into market-ready products.

According to the Chief Minister, this support framework will assist entrepreneurs at various stages of product development, including testing, preparation for certification and market entry.

The initiative will also support students and researchers in converting their ideas into tangible products and new business ventures. Assistance with prototyping, intellectual property rights, incubation and industry linkages will be among its key areas of focus.

The foundation is expected to help bring useful technologies developed in research institutions beyond laboratory settings, enabling their practical application and commercial expansion. Access to technical expertise, business guidance and investors will further help innovators develop and scale their products.

CM Rekha Gupta said government departments would also be able to present real-world challenges to Delhi’s innovators under the initiative. Products and technologies developed to address these challenges could be tested through pilot projects, with successful solutions considered for wider adoption.

The arrangement is expected to give government departments access to emerging technologies and practical solutions while allowing startups to demonstrate the effectiveness and real-world value of their products.

The foundation will seek to strengthen collaboration among the government, industry, educational institutions and innovators. Gupta said it would work closely with industry representatives, academic institutions, investors and other stakeholders to build a supportive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the national capital.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar