Meghalaya Continues to Shine as India’s Top Startup Performer

Meghalaya was honored with the prestigious title of the Top Performer State at the National Startup Awards 2022, a recognition that solidifies its position as a leader in India’s thriving startup ecosystem. Building on its success as the Best Performer the previous year, Meghalaya’s sustained commitment to nurturing and developing its startup environment has set it apart.

This achievement is a testament to the vision and leadership of the Chief Minister, Shri Conrad Sangma. Faced with the dual challenge of a youthful demographic advantage (over 72% of the population below 35) and a need for employment-generating industries, Shri Conrad Sangma, an entrepreneur himself, took innovative steps to transform the state’s youth into job creators.

The Meghalaya Startup Policy 2018, introduced by the Chief Minister, aimed at making the state “India’s leading startup hub by 2023.” This vision materialized through initiatives like the PRIME (Promotion & Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises) program, launched in 2020, which played a pivotal role in catalyzing Meghalaya’s startup revolution.

Key components of this effort include the Chief Minister’s E-Champion Challenge and the PRIME Incubation program. The annual E-Champion Challenge selects promising youngsters to pitch startup ideas in front of industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and government officials. Currently, the program supports around 5,500 entrepreneurs and over 200 startups, many of which have received seed funding and zero-interest scale-up loans.

To provide state-of-the-art workspaces and supportive infrastructure, Meghalaya is establishing numerous incubation centers called ‘PRIME Hubs.’ These hubs not only facilitate processing, packaging, and value addition activities but also offer market access to entrepreneurs, allowing them to realize premium prices for their products in local and overseas markets.

Meghalaya’s market linkage strategies have proven successful, as evidenced by the sale of a large consignment of GI-tagged Khasi mandarins during the ‘Zest Fest’ in Bangalore and the export of world-famous Kew Pineapples and Lakadong Turmeric to premium retail outlets in the Middle East.

Recognizing the matrilineal society in Meghalaya, 20% of the funding support under the PRIME program is reserved exclusively for women entrepreneurs. This initiative has empowered numerous women to run thriving businesses in traditional handloom and other innovative trades.

Taking the startup ecosystem to the next level, Meghalaya launched the CM-ELEVATE program last year, with an ambitious target of supporting 20,000 entrepreneurs over the next 5 years. Offering substantial subsidies, the program has already garnered more than 30,000 applications, signaling strong support from the people.

Meghalaya’s efforts were also acknowledged on the national stage, as it was prominently featured as a ‘Focus State’ at the World Food India 2023 event and received the second runner-up trophy at the One District One Product (ODOP) Awards in January 2024. The recent National Startup Award adds another feather to Meghalaya’s cap.

The award, received by Dr. Vijay Kumar, Meghalaya Government’s Commissioner Secretary for Finance & Planning, from the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, is a testament to Meghalaya’s dedicated efforts in funding startups and providing incubation & mentorship. This recognition will undoubtedly inspire the state’s youth to embrace entrepreneurial occupations and position Meghalaya as an economic powerhouse in North East India.