Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Distributes Rs 1.07 Crore Seed Grants To 31 Startups
Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Distributes Rs 1.07 Crore Seed Grants To 31 Startups Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 19:43 IST Punjab CM
Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Distributes Rs 1.07 Crore Seed Grants To 31 Startups Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 19:43 IST Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann grants Rs 1.07 crore seed funding to 31 startups in sectors like agriculture and AI, under Punjab Startup and Industrial Policy 2026 Punjab on path to becoming startup hub of India; ₹1.07 crore Seed Grants distributed to 31 startups: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann (Image Courtesy: AAP) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday distributed seed grants worth Rs 1.07 crore to 31 startups at the Startup Punjab Seed Distribution function in Chandigarh, saying the state government would not allow lack of early-stage funding to kill promising ideas. Seven startups received Rs 5 lakh each, while 24 received Rs 3 lakh each, under the Punjab Startup and Industrial Policy 2026, which has raised the seed grant ceiling from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “These young entrepreneurs are turning their dreams into reality through innovative ideas and they truly deserve this support. We will handhold you, listen to you, support you and resolve every difficulty you face," Mann said at the event. Who Got The Money And What Sectors Are Covered The 31 startups selected span agriculture, artificial intelligence, technology, governance, textiles and manufacturing.
Mann said the grants are designed to reduce the financial pressure on founders at the stage when most ideas collapse, before a product is tested or a market is proven. “Many brilliant ideas fail because entrepreneurs lack resources in the early stages, but the Punjab Government will not allow the dreams of young entrepreneurs to be crushed due to lack of funds," he said. Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, Vice Chairperson of Punjab Development Commission Seema Bansal, and Chief Secretary KAP Sinha were present at the event. Mann Points To Zomato, Ola, Flipkart As The Benchmark Mann said Punjab’s entrepreneurial DNA was already visible in the founders behind some of India’s largest companies. “Companies such as Zomato, Ola and Flipkart are examples of how Punjabis have proven their capability globally. Our goal is that the next generation of successful founders should not only come from Punjab but should also build their companies in Punjab," he said. He drew on visits to South Korea’s Pangyo Techno Valley and the Netherlands’ World Horti Center as reference points for what a functioning innovation ecosystem looks like in practice, and said Punjab’s agricultural base, combined with investment in agri-tech, food processing and cold chain infrastructure, gave the state a natural runway in those sectors.
Agriculture And Agri -Tech As The Core Growth Bet Mann said Punjab’s next phase of economic growth should come from high-value agriculture and the technology layer built around it. “Punjab’s future growth must come from high-value agriculture, agri-tech, food processing, protected cultivation, cold chains and agri-logistics. Our farmers have always been progressive and the Punjab Government is focused on giving them access to modern technology, better markets and new business models," he said. The seed grant programme sits alongside the government’s broader push on youth employment, which has included 67,037 government jobs distributed on merit since 2022, construction of 25 new ITIs, and a semester internship programme across all 91 polytechnic colleges in the state. ‘Dream Big. Build Global Companies’ Addressing the founders directly, Mann said the ambition should not stop at Punjab or India. “Never think small. Dream big. Set your sights on building global companies that can compete on the world stage. When you succeed, you will not succeed alone. You will bring pride to your parents, your community and Punjab," he said. He added that the 31 startups receiving grants today were expected to generate thousands of jobs across the state, reducing pressure on youth to seek opportunities abroad, a theme Mann’s government has returned to repeatedly as it positions reverse migration as a measure of policy success.
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