19 unicorns in Haryana: CM Saini pitches startup-friendly policies
TiECON-2026 Hands over Rs 7.5 crore investment cheques to four ventures
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday pitched the state as a hub for startups and innovation, urging entrepreneurs to leverage policy support and incentives to drive growth.
Addressing the opening day of TiECON Chandigarh 2026, he said, “Haryana is the land of unlimited opportunities and aspirations where the government is fully committed to extend support to all budding investors and entrepreneurs to succeed.” He exhorted business leaders and startup founders to scale their ventures, saying, “Haryana is the 7th state in the country with more than 9,500 startups registered with DPIIT.”
Highlighting the state’s growing footprint, he added, “Out of 117 unicorns in the country, 19 are registered in Haryana.” Referring to national goals, the CM said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is our inspiration and Haryana is actively contributing towards that mission.”
He also pointed to upcoming infrastructure, stating, “There are two artificial intelligence (AI) centres coming up in the state to further push the IT and digital infrastructure architecture across the state.”
“The need today is to keep pace with the rapid changes in the IT sector across the globe and our youngsters are fully capable to transform India’s potential into a grand success,” he added. The CM distributed investment cheques worth Rs 7.5 crore to four startups in collaboration with Chandigarh Angels Network. Gamma Opengig Work Private Limited received Rs 2 crore, Delectable Gourmet Private Limited Rs 3.5 crore, Dreamaerospace Technologies Rs 1 crore and Ariro Private Limited Rs 1 crore. He also presented 14 STPI awards and seven TiE Chandigarh Ecosystem Catalyst awards.
Earlier, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh said the IT ecosystem has been instrumental in driving startup growth across North India.
“Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have benefited immensely from the enabling IT ecosystem prevailing in the region,” he said.
Highlighting Haryana’s progress, he added, “The entrepreneurial landscape across Haryana stands testament today to the vibrancy of the state’s progressive policies, robust digital infrastructure and attractive growth potential,” while pointing to Gurugram’s emergence as a global investment and innovation hub. “Panchkula is poised for the next wave of startup innovation,” he said.
Referring to India’s innovation push, the Governor noted the country’s rise in the Global Innovation Index rankings, from 81st in 2015 to 38th in 2025.
TiE Chandigarh president Puneet Verma said the collaboration between TiE and the Haryana government would help strengthen the region’s startup ecosystem. “It is a great partnership of TiE with the Haryana government and the synergy will produce desired results in service of our state and country,” he said, underlining the role of such platforms in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
