The Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN), under the MSME Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, has been awarded the SKOCH Silver Award 2026 in the Ease of Doing Business category for its flagship Tamil Nadu SC/ST Startup Fund. The fund is the first-of-kind state government-backed, dedicated equity financing initiative for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs.
The StartupTN team called on Dr. Atul Anand, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, MSME Department, and received his appreciation for this recognition on Monday.
The award recognises StartupTN's innovative and inclusive approach to enabling entrepreneurship among marginalised communities through structured equity financing, mentorship, and ecosystem support. Launched to address the longstanding challenge of access to capital for SC/ST entrepreneurs, the TN SC/ST Startup Fund provides equity-based funding, eliminating repayment burdens typically associated with conventional loan schemes. The fund combines financial support with venture-building assistance, mentorship, market access, and investor connectivity.
Since its inception, the fund has emerged as a benchmark model for inclusive entrepreneurship. As of FY 2025-26, the initiative has:
● Supported 43 SC/ST-led startups
● Facilitated investments worth ₹60.80 crore
● Supported portfolio startups to raise ₹21.66 crore in follow-on investments
The fund follows a robust governance framework involving business, legal, and financial due diligence, ensuring transparency and effective deployment of funds.
Several portfolio startups have demonstrated significant growth and innovation potential. Among them, OrbitAid Aerospace, a space-tech startup, raised over ₹15 crore in follow-on funding and launched its satellite aboard an ISRO mission. Another beneficiary, Unibose Technology, developed Asia's first EU ATEX Zone-0 certified robotic system for hazardous industrial environments and secured ₹5.46 crore in follow-on investments.