“The Union Budget marks a decisive step toward positioning India as a global leader in innovation, with a clear focus on startups, technology, and progressive regulations. The launch of a new ‘Fund of Funds’ will energise the startup ecosystem, enabling creation of the next wave of tech and deep-tech ventures. Also, the introduction of a revamped central KYC system will drive greater transparency and trust within the financial ecosystem. Establishing a Digital Public Infrastructure for international trade will simplify cross-border financing, enhancing India’s role as a key player in global commerce. These initiatives will boost India’s fintech growth and strengthen its role in the digital economy.”
Cashfree Payments CEO and Cofounder Akash Sinha
“The emergence of 211 new healthcare startups and the adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning by 4,000 startups have driven a remarkable 28.03% growth in health-tech investments over the past year. This momentum underscores the need for the upcoming budget to focus on expanding India’s health-tech startup ecosystem through substantial tax relief and targeted incentives to empower practicing and aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs to further amplify the benefits of ongoing government initiatives for healthcare like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Further, creating a dedicated financial pool for technology-driven solutions should be a priority to accelerate research and development for latest drugs, enabling improved patient outcomes and reduce clinical trials cost. By allocating resources for healthcare data management to boost digital adoption across the sector, the budget can pave the way for delivering more personalized and accessible healthcare to millions of underserved citizens, strengthening India’s position as a global leader in health-tech innovation. As a leader in the digital healthcare messaging space, Doceree reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the government’s initiatives and is committed to contribute to the ongoing efforts to advance the digitalization of India’s healthcare sector, leveraging its expertise to foster responsible marketing in healthcare.”
Doceree Founder & Global CEO Harshit Jain
“This budget is nothing short of transformative—it covers a wide spectrum of critical areas, from tax simplification to deep-tech investments, infrastructure, and energy expansion. The increase in income tax exemption to ₹12.75 lakh is a bold, economy-igniting move that puts more money in the hands of salaried individuals, fueling consumption and economic momentum. The renewal of the ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds and the focus on deep-tech funding will provide much-needed capital to early-stage ventures and India’s next wave of innovation. The increased allocation for nuclear and power sectors, alongside massive infrastructure CAPEX, signals that this budget isn’t just about the next year—it is about building a globally competitive India by 2047. This is the first full-fledged budget of the Modi government’s third term, and it has delivered on the needs of the economy, startups, and investors alike. The next big moment to watch will be the income tax bill set to be tabled next week, which could further revolutionize India’s tax system. Overall, this budget sets the foundation for sustained, long-term economic growth, and we at Artha Venture Fund are supremely excited about the future it promises.”
Artha Venture Fund Managing Partner Anirudh A Damani
The Union Budget 2025 has once again established the Government’s continued support for the MSME sector. And there are few takeaways for the sector, the limits for MSME classification have been enhanced from 2 to 2.5 times, which will benefit the sector. The guarantee scheme for micro and small enterprises has been expanded from a maximum limit of ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore, which will increase credit flow to this segment. Additionally, 10 lakh credit cards will be issued to MSMEs, helping them manage working capital more effectively. Several measures have also been announced for startups, further strengthening the Startup India mission. These initiatives will elevate the program to new heights by providing for easing compliance norms, and increasing funding opportunities. With sector-specific support in areas such as artificial intelligence, green energy, and biotechnology, these efforts will boost employment and position India as a global startup hub. Overall, this Budget reinforces the Government’s commitment to empowering MSMEs and startups, driving sustained economic growth and job creation.
UGRO Capital Chief Financial Officer Kishor Lodha
“While the Budget started with a big bang quite literally, the Honourable Finance Minister has announced a string of boosters for the Indian startup sector. The extensions to the loan programs make sense in the context of micro enterprises. However, the crucial fund of funds of Rs 10,000 crore will play a key role in boosting domestic capital in the startup sector. The announcement on deep tech fund, while details are awaited, it should be viewed through the DeepSeek lens of what can be done with relatively small amounts of capital when provided to agile and creative teams. We expect the VC ecosystem to bring velocity and momentum into funding these enterprises. I was especially delighted to hear about the enhancing the “spirit of curiosity and innovation “ with IIT expansions of capacity and centres of excellence for AI education – talent availability is a necessary part of continuing our growth”.
InvestorAi Cofounder & CEO Bruce Keith
The government’s announcement of a another Fund of Funds (FoF) worth ₹10,000 crore in the budget is strong commitment to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem and an acknowledgement of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) in channeling these resources effectively. While equity funding through AIFs is essential, there is an urgent need for debt financing for startups. The introduction of a credit guarantee will help startups achieve a balanced mix of equity and debt funding, making their growth more sustainable. Additionally, the plan for a new Deep Tech Fund of Funds is a crucial step towards advancing deep tech innovation in India. This signals a clear intent from the govt to position India strongly in the global AI race, which is much needed boost for deep tech startups specially in AI and space tech”.
Bluehill.VC Cofounder & General Partner Sridhar Parthasarathy
“Our ask was a better credit platform and framework for startups and to that extent this is a welcome step. This will allow them to grow and build sustainable businesses and not be dependent on just equity infusion to grow. Their capacity to attract follow-on growth capital will be further strengthened by the additional cash, which will also help them make important investments in operations, personnel, and technology. This action boosts job creation, accelerates startup growth, and creates long-term value in the ecosystem by resolving financial limitations”.
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