India, March 31 -- As India's startup ecosystem matures and expands into Tier II and Tier III cities, the focus is shifting towards capital accessibility, founder support, and policy-backed initiatives that can drive the next phase of growth. At the centre of this shift is the government's INR 10K Cr Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), managed by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which has channelled investments into more than 1,200 startups through 153 alternative investment funds (AIFs).

The bank is also working closely with incubators, academic institutions, and state governments to push startup activity in underserved markets - a shift that comes as early stage capital becomes more selective post-2022.

Now, with Star...