Manufacturing
Eco-friendly packaging manufacturing
Make paper, bagasse or compostable packaging for food businesses and D2C brands moving away from plastic.
Business ideas
Business ideas for India
54 ideas with a budget, first steps and a cheap way to test each one.
Browse by industry
All ideas
Manufacturing
Spices processing & branded masalas
Clean, grind and pack regional spices and masala blends under a trusted brand, sold online and in local stores.
Manufacturing
EV components & accessories
Manufacture or assemble chargers, wiring harnesses, battery enclosures or accessories for India’s growing EV market.
D2C Brands & FMCG
Handloom & artisan D2C brand
Work directly with weavers and artisans to sell authentic handloom, crafts and home décor online in India and abroad.
Manufacturing
Cosmetics & personal-care contract manufacturing
Manufacture skincare, haircare and personal-care products for the hundreds of new D2C brands launching every year.
Manufacturing
Modular furniture manufacturing (D2C)
Make flat-pack or modular furniture for young renters and small homes, sold online and through experience zones.
Food & Beverage
Small food-processing unit (pickles, snacks, ready-to-cook)
Turn regional recipes into packaged pickles, snacks or ready-to-cook mixes with clean labels.
D2C Brands & FMCG
Healthy snacks brand
Millet, protein or low-sugar snacks for health-conscious urban consumers and office pantries.
D2C Brands & FMCG
Pet food & pet-care brand
Fresh pet food, treats or grooming products for India’s fast-growing community of pet parents.
D2C Brands & FMCG
Sustainable fashion label
Small-batch clothing using organic, recycled or handloom fabrics for conscious young buyers.
D2C Brands & FMCG
Personalised & corporate gifting
Curated, personalised gift boxes for festivals, employee onboarding and client gifting.
D2C Brands & FMCG
Ayurveda & wellness products
Modern, clinically-minded Ayurvedic and herbal wellness products with transparent ingredients.
Food & Beverage
Cloud kitchen with 2–3 delivery brands
A delivery-only kitchen running a few focused menus, optimised for delivery apps and repeat orders.
Food & Beverage
Specialty coffee kiosk / café
High-quality coffee from Indian estates served fast from kiosks near offices, colleges and metro stations.
Food & Beverage
Home-style tiffin subscription
Daily healthy, home-style meals delivered to students, working professionals and seniors on subscription.
Services & Agencies
Bookkeeping & GST filing service for MSMEs
Tech-enabled accounting, GST and payroll compliance for small businesses at an affordable monthly fee.
Edtech & Skilling
Financial literacy content & courses
Teach young Indians money basics — budgeting, investing, taxes — through videos, cohorts and community.
Fintech
Supply-chain finance for MSMEs
Help small suppliers get paid faster by financing their invoices from large buyers, with regulated lenders.
Fintech
Insurance advisory for small businesses
Help shops, factories and startups choose the right business insurance — fire, liability, health, cyber.
SaaS & B2B Software
Clinic management software
Appointments, prescriptions, billing and WhatsApp reminders for small clinics and diagnostic centres.
SaaS & B2B Software
WhatsApp commerce tools for small sellers
Catalogues, order management and payment links for businesses that sell on WhatsApp.
AI & Deep Tech
AI customer-support assistant for Indian SMBs
Multilingual AI chat and voice support that answers customer questions for small businesses 24×7.
SaaS & B2B Software
School management & parent app
Fees, attendance, homework and parent communication for affordable private schools.
SaaS & B2B Software
HR & payroll for small companies
Simple payroll, attendance, leave and compliance (PF, ESIC, TDS) for companies with 10–200 employees.
SaaS & B2B Software
Developer tools / API product
Build a tool developers love — testing, observability, payments or data APIs — and sell globally from India.
Edtech & Skilling
Job-ready skills cohort courses
Live, project-based courses that make learners job-ready in skills like data, design, sales or digital marketing.
Edtech & Skilling
Vernacular test-prep platform
Affordable government-exam or entrance-exam prep in regional languages — following the PhysicsWallah playbook.
Edtech & Skilling
Kids’ coding, robotics & STEM labs
After-school and in-school STEM programmes with hands-on kits for children aged 8–16.
Healthtech
Diagnostic home sample collection
Book lab tests online and collect samples at home, partnering with accredited labs.
Healthtech
Elder-care services at home
Trusted caregivers, companionship, health monitoring and errands for seniors whose children live away.
Healthtech
Neighbourhood fitness studio
Small-format studios for strength, yoga or functional training with community and coaching.
Agritech & Rural
Farm-to-consumer fresh produce
Source vegetables and fruit directly from farmer groups and deliver to apartments and restaurants.
Agritech & Rural
Agricultural drone services
Spray crops, map fields and monitor crop health for farmers and FPOs using certified drones.
Agritech & Rural
Organic inputs & bio-fertilisers
Produce and distribute bio-fertilisers, compost and natural farming inputs to farmers and home gardeners.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Hyperlocal delivery for local shops
Same-day delivery for pharmacies, bakeries and stores that don’t have their own riders.
Mobility & EV
EV fleet leasing for delivery riders
Lease electric two-wheelers to gig delivery riders with charging, maintenance and insurance included.
Mobility & EV
Used-vehicle inspection & certification
Independent inspections and certification for people buying used cars and bikes.
Climate & Energy
Rooftop solar installation
Design and install rooftop solar for homes, shops and small factories, helping them use subsidy schemes.
Climate & Energy
E-waste collection & recycling
Collect, refurbish and responsibly recycle electronics from homes and companies.
Climate & Energy
ESG & carbon reporting software
Help Indian companies measure emissions and produce sustainability reports their customers and regulators ask for.
Retail & Local Business
Kirana store digitisation
Help neighbourhood stores go online — catalogues, ONDC/marketplace listings, billing and credit tracking.
Retail & Local Business
Franchise a proven local food brand
Turn a successful local tea, snack or sweet shop into a franchise chain across cities.
Retail & Local Business
Refurbished electronics
Buy, test, refurbish and sell used phones and laptops with warranties.
Services & Agencies
Niche digital marketing agency
Performance marketing, content and SEO for one industry — like clinics, D2C food brands or real estate.
Services & Agencies
Wedding & event planning marketplace
Connect families with vetted vendors — decor, catering, photography — with transparent pricing and planning tools.
Services & Agencies
Compliance-as-a-service for startups
Incorporation, ROC filings, GST, payroll and ESOP administration bundled for early-stage startups.
Services & Agencies
Home services marketplace for tier-2 cities
Verified electricians, plumbers, cleaners and appliance repair booked online in smaller cities.
Media, Gaming & Creators
Regional-language news or entertainment channel
Build a YouTube/Instagram media brand for an under-served language or community.
Media, Gaming & Creators
Creator talent & brand-deal agency
Manage brand partnerships, contracts and content strategy for micro and mid-size creators.
Media, Gaming & Creators
Casual mobile games studio
Make simple, culturally relevant casual games for Indian and global audiences.
Real Estate & Proptech
Managed co-living for students & young professionals
Lease buildings, furnish them well and run safe, community-driven co-living near colleges and offices.
Travel & Hospitality
Experiential travel & local tours
Curated small-group trips — food walks, heritage, treks, workations — with great local hosts.
Travel & Hospitality
Homestay management company
Manage listings, pricing, guests and housekeeping for property owners in tourist destinations.
Real Estate & Proptech
Construction materials marketplace
Help small builders and contractors buy cement, steel and fittings at transparent prices with credit.
Investment ranges are rough, indicative estimates for a lean start and vary widely by city, scale and choices. They are not quotes or advice. Build your own budget with the Startup Cost Calculator.