Startup-India: an exploratory analysis of issues, challenges, and the road ahead

Startups are a rising trend among young budding entrepreneurs in India. India is ranked third in the global startup ecosystem and is emerging as a hub of startup companies. To promote entrepreneurship in India, the government has launched the 'Startup-India' initiative. But the percentage of businesses that fail is also significant. There are various challenges faced by startups in India both in urban and rural areas. The present study addresses the issues and challenges faced by startup companies in India through exploratory qualitative research. The method used for data collection is semi-structured interviews through open-ended questions. The investigation is based on a sample of 148 startups from all over India. The inductive method was used for qualitative data analysis using the software AQUAD 7.0. The challenges that emerged are also presented as a comparison with the existing literature. The findings and suggestions may be useful to the policymakers and entrepreneurs.