The Startup India Initiative, operating under Invest India, has formed a strategic partnership with Shiprocket, aiming to collaboratively cultivate D2C 2.0 and support the next wave of consumer products created by entrepreneurs nationwide. This program seeks to accelerate D2C and e-commerce startups that have demonstrated early success and tangible impact by offering products tailored to the Indian market.

Saahil Goel, Co-founder and CEO of Shiprocket, highlights the significance of Startup India as a prominent platform for startups and entrepreneurs in the country. He expresses Shiprocket’s commitment to leveraging the support of Startup India to foster the growth of early-stage D2C and e-commerce startups throughout emerging markets in India. The objective is to establish a comprehensive support system that addresses not only financial needs but encompasses all aspects of business development.

D2C startups interested in participating can apply for the Rocketfuel D2C Accelerator exclusively hosted on the Startup India portal. Selected startups will receive Rs one lakh in cash grants from Shiprocket, in addition to an immediate Rs 50,000 in shipping credits. Furthermore, there is an opportunity for potential investments of up to Rs 50 lakhs from Shiprocket and its fund partners.

During the three-month accelerator program, Shiprocket will extend top-tier privileges for logistics and e-commerce services, providing shipping credits for use on its platform. Participating startups will gain access to D2C Verse, a nationwide D2C community comprising key startups and investors, and receive personalized mentorship from industry leaders. The selected startups will also benefit from Startup India’s guidance and extensive reach across India.

Deepak Bagla, MD, and CEO of Invest India, emphasizes the excellence of Indian ingenuity in developing impactful and frugal solutions, which he sees as a strength for the nation. He underscores the importance of fostering these strengths as India moves towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat, ensuring that D2C founders can effectively distribute their impactful products to households across the country.