Guwahati: Women founded 52.6% of Assam startups surveyed, signalling strong entrepreneurial participation as the state’s ecosystem expands across sectors.The findings are part of Assam Startup Ecosystem Report by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), based on primary research covering 116 startups across the state.The report assesses the ventures’ maturity, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and the measures needed to build a more connected ecosystem.The startups surveyed operate in sectors including agriculture and food, information technology, handloom and handicrafts, manufacturing and logistics, healthcare, education, tourism and hospitality, and construction and real estate. They are at different stages of growth.However, funding access was the most frequently cited challenge, highlighting the need for broader funding avenues and stronger links between startups and investors.Founders also identified gaps in business knowledge, awareness of the wider startup ecosystem and technology expertise.The report recommends entrepreneurship education, stronger mentorship and professional-service networks, closer industry-academia collaboration, business-to-business networking platforms, improved technology infrastructure, local support and stronger market linkages.“Assam’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has gained tremendous momentum, and its future is very promising,” said Ajay Jain, chairperson of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park board.Jain described IIMCIP as a key partner in the state’s entrepreneurship development and said the report aims to highlight Assam’s potential and attract more ecosystem enablers. He called the growth of women entrepreneurs “heartening” and said the state could build on this foundation to create sustainable enterprises that contribute to India’s Viksit Bharat goals.The report recommends stronger investor networks, alternative funding pathways, sector-focused support, dedicated research and development infrastructure, deeper industry-academia ties, improved market linkages, structured entrepreneurship education and business support.It also proposes a four-stage support framework — outreach & hunt, pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration — to guide ventures from early idea validation to expansion into mature enterprises.
