DPIIT, Zepto Partner to Boost India's Manufacturing Startups

• DPIIT and Zepto launch Zepto Nova to support manufacturing startups
• Program offers mentorship, resources, and direct market access
• Focus on hardware, IoT, packaging, and sustainable manufacturing

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has collaborated with quick commerce firm Zepto to help manufacturing start-ups thrive in India.

Under the collaboration, start-ups will go through "Zepto Nova", a six-month innovation challenge aimed at identifying, mentoring, and scaling promising manufacturing start-ups into large supply chains. The focus areas for this initiative are in hardware, Internet of Things (IoT), packaging innovations and sustainable manufacturing solutions.

Many young manufacturing start-ups - particularly with advanced hardware or eco-friendly materials find scaling up difficult and nearly impossible with high costs, long R&D times, and little access to the market. Zepto Nova will help young start-ups push through these barriers, ultimately supporting them from prototypes to market-ready products, while using Zepto's delivery network and digital systems as a platform.

The initiative has two pillars, Mentorship and Capacity Building - Startups will receive expert workshops, support from start up leaders, and the Startup India initiative itself. While it will benefit all start ups, we are also focusing on women led businesses and those based in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

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Inclusive and Sustainable Growth - Zepto would be supporting over 100 Indian start-ups and bring them into its supply chain to offer them access to direct customers, exposure to their brands and an opportunity to scale.

During the signing, Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT commented that companies like Zepto that have achieved unicorn valuations can help start-ups by giving them real access to market which is better than finding.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Sumeet Jarangal, Director at DPIIT, and Kaivalya Vohra, Co-Founder of Zepto, in the presence of senior officials. Dr. Jarangal said the program aligns with national initiatives like Make in India and Viksit Bharat 2047.

"At Zepto, giving back to the ecosystem is not just a responsibility-it's a privilege. Through Zepto Nova, we aim to empower startups building the future of manufacturing and unlock scale, speed, and sustainability for India-first innovation", said Kaivalya Vohra, Co-Founder of Zepto.

If successful, the DPIIT–Zepto partnership could not only support 100 startups but also set a model for future public-private collaborations to grow India’s manufacturing sector.