Startup India Recognition Application/ Registration

Organization : Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Service Name : Application For Startup Recognition

Website : https://www.startupindia.gov.in/
Apply Here : https://www.startupindia.gov.in/

Startup Recognition

Please ensure that the document being uploaded is as per the nature of recommendation selected and is in the prescribed format (wherever applicable). Refer FAQs, document formats, list of recognized incubators, list of SEBI registered funds.

Related / Similar Facility : DPIIT Download Startup Recognition Certificate

In case of any query contact Startup India Hub Toll Free Number: 1800115565. Please do not upload any document other than those mentioned above so that your certificate is not declared invalid.

Supporting Documents and Self-Certification:
Nature of Recommendation:
** Recommendation (with regard to innovation nature of business), in a format specified by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, from any incubator established in post-graduate college in India; or
** Letter of support by any Incubator which is funded (in relation to the project) from Government of India or any State Government as part of any specified scheme to promote innovation; or
** Recommendation (with regard to innovative nature of business ), in a format specified by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, from any Incubator recognized by Government of India; or
** Letter of funding of not less than 20 percent in equity by any Incubation Fund/ Angel Fund/ Private Equity Fund/ Accelerator/ Angel Network duly registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India that endorses innovative nature of the business. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion may include any such fund in a negative list for such reasons as it may deem fit; or
** Letter of funding by Government of India or any State Government as part of any specified scheme to promote innovation; or
** Patent filed and published in the Journal by the India Patent Office in areas affiliated with the nature of business being promoted.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What qualifies as a “Startup” for the purpose of Government schemes?:
An entity (Private Limited Company or Registered Partnership Firm or Limited Liability Partnership) shall be considered a “Startup” :
a) Upto 5 years from the date of its incorporation/ registration, and
b) If its turnover for any of the financial years has not exceeded INR 25 crore, and
c) It is working towards innovation, development, deployment or commercialization of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property.

** The entity should not have been formed by splitting up or reconstruction of a business already in existence.
** A proprietorship or a public limited company is not eligible as startup. A one person company, being a private limited company is entitled to be recognized as a ‘startup’.
** For additional information, refer notification G.S.R. 180(E) dated February 17, 2016.

2.How does a Startup obtain benefits under various Government schemes including the ones announced in the Action Plan on January 16, 2016??:
** For availing various benefits (except tax and IPR related benefits i.e. action points #4, #9, #10 and #11 of the Startup India Action Plan), an entity would be required to be recognized as a Startup by applying on Startup India Mobile App/ Portal.
** In order to obtain tax and IPR related benefits, a Startup shall be required to be certified as an eligible business from the Inter-Ministerial Board of Certification.

3.For how long would recognition as a “Startup” be valid?:
An entity would cease to be a ‘startup’ upon expiry of:
a) 5 years from the date of its incorporation/ registration, OR
b) If its turnover for any of the financial years has exceeded INR 25 crore; OR

Startups would be required to intimate DIPP of any such cases within a period of 21 days.

4.Can an existing entity register itself as a “Startup” on the Startup India Portal and Mobile App?:
Yes, an existing entity that meets the criteria as indicated in response to Question 1 can visit the Startup India Portal and Mobile App and get itself recognized for various benefits. The tax benefits proposed under the Finance Bill 2016 will be available from 01-04-2016.

5.What is the time frame for obtaining certificate of recognition as a “Startup” in case an entity already exists?:
The process of registration in such cases shall be real time and the certificate of recognition would be issued immediately upon successful submission of the application.