PhysicsWallah’s School of Startups (PW SoS), the entrepreneurship arm of edtech company PhysicsWallah, has signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Announced on 28 October 2026, the partnership aims to support 25,000 early-stage startups, with a focus on Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural India.
The tie-up takes PhysicsWallah, best known for low-cost test preparation, further into founder education. It follows the company’s earlier AI skilling partnership with Microsoft for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which targeted the same small-town learners.
What the PhysicsWallah DPIIT partnership offers founders
According to PW SoS, the programme combines online and residential training, prototype guidance, incubation, investor access and seed capital. Founders will be placed in tracks matched to their stage:
- PW UDYAMI: 90 days of live online training followed by one year of mentorship for first-time entrepreneurs from small towns and villages.
- Aarambh Immersion: a five-day residential programme on prototyping, pitch preparation and networking.
- Growth Stage CEO Program: support for 200 DPIIT-recognised startups across four hybrid cohorts as they prepare to raise growth funding.
- PW DeepTech Accelerator: a six-month programme for selected high-potential deep-tech ventures.
Selected innovators can also compete in the annual National AI Startup Challenge and SeedX for proof-of-concept work, corporate pilots and seed investment. PW SoS is an accredited incubator under Uttar Pradesh’s StartInUP initiative, and its business incubation centre offers incubation support and state seed grants.
Why entrepreneurship education beyond the metros matters
Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, said taking startup support beyond Tier-I cities is key to a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem and would help grassroots innovators build scalable, job-creating businesses. Rounaq Mustafa, Head of PW School of Startups, said the goal is to make knowledge, mentorship and funding accessible to aspiring founders across Bharat.
The move comes as fewer graduates from elite campuses opt to build companies. Recent Tracxn data showed fewer IIT and IIM graduates turning founders in 2026, while campus-led efforts such as the ₹1 crore Made in Fire Fund for IIT Kanpur student startups remain concentrated at top institutes. A national programme run by an edtech platform could reach aspiring founders who never pass through such campuses.
Universities have long argued for this pipeline; Elets has examined the university’s role in India’s startup journey. Details of Startup India’s recognition and support schemes are available on the official Startup India portal.
Key takeaways
- PW School of Startups and Startup India (DPIIT) signed a two-year MoU, announced on 28 October 2026.
- The programme targets 25,000 early-stage startups, prioritising Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural founders.
- Tracks include PW UDYAMI, Aarambh Immersion, a Growth Stage CEO Program for 200 startups and a six-month DeepTech Accelerator.
FAQ
Who can join the PW School of Startups programmes?
Aspiring and early-stage founders, with priority for those in Tier-II and Tier-III cities and rural areas; the Growth Stage CEO Program is for DPIIT-recognised startups.
How long will the PhysicsWallah DPIIT partnership run?
The MoU covers two years and aims to support 25,000 early-stage startups in that period.
Featured image: PW School of Startups and DPIIT officials with the signed MoU. Photo: PW School of Startups
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