SoftBank, Tiger & Naspers may join Startup Council

NEW DELHI /BENGALURU: Marquee global investors, including SoftBank, Tiger Global Management and Naspers, could be part of the government’s National Startup Advisory Council, which will act as an overarching body for the country’s digital ecosystem.

The Council, which comes under the commerce ministry’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), will comprise 44 members, representing entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and government officials. ET first reported about the Council’s formation on January 8.

“Startups are very important for economic development and we’ve seen tremendous progress in the community in India,” said Guruprasad Mohapatra, Secretary, DPIIT. “This (Startup Advisory Council) is a more organised way of interacting with them to take note of their concerns and act upon them to whatever extent possible.”