Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launches 'The Bharat Project' To Empower One Million Entrepreneurs From Rural And Tier 2, Tier 3 India

Mumbai: A national initiative was launched on Monday to empower one million entrepreneurs from smaller towns and villages of India. ‘The Bharat Project’ is said to bring together the government, ecosystem enablers, creators and communities to unlock grassroots potential and make access to entrepreneurial tools, education and funding easier for everyone.

On Monday, union minister Piyush Goyal launched The Bharat Project, a national initiative by YourStory, aimed at empowering one million entrepreneurs from Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural India. It is said to aid entrepreneurs through an AI-powered mobile-first platform, Co-Pilot for Entrepreneurs, that offers startup guidance, learning resources, mentorship access, and success stories in both Hindi and English.

The initiative also aims to educate and upskill entrepreneurs to drive state-level and district-level activations and WhatsApp-based learning to help young people learn how to start and grow their businesses. Bharat Ideathon will be a nationwide challenge that will find great business ideas from over 1,000 districts and help top founders with mentorship and visibility.

Left - Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO, YourStory - Right- Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Industry and Supply of India

Similarly, selected entrepreneurs from smaller towns will get a chance to pitch to investors, win grants, and build long-term support through BharatSparks launchpad. A seven-part web documentary series Shuru-kar will also be released to showcase real startup stories from across regions, featuring innovators, investors, and policymakers.

Goyal said, “India is on an irreversible path to becoming an economic powerhouse. From a $4 trillion economy today, we are poised to grow eight times to $30–35 trillion by 2047. It’s a strategic roadmap built to support startups across sectors, empowering first-generation entrepreneurs, and a government-backed seed fund of Rs10,000 crore to democratise innovation.”

Shradha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory, said, “India’s future is not limited to metros. It’s brewing in the kitchens, backyards, and streets of Bharat. The Bharat Project is a step towards ensuring that every aspiring entrepreneur has access to resources, stories, and support to turn their idea into impact.”