New Delhi: India’s startup ecosystem has launched the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), a new industry platform aimed at addressing policy challenges faced by emerging ventures. The SPF, which includes 30 founding members such as Swiggy, Dream11, CRED, Razorpay, and Pine Labs, plans to expand its membership to 100 in the near future.
The forum seeks to act as a bridge between startups and policymakers, focusing on pressing issues such as data governance, competition with global platforms, and evolving regulatory frameworks. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the forum’s potential role in shaping India’s transition to a developed economy by 2047, emphasizing its focus on fostering job creation and innovation.
SPF differentiates itself from traditional industry bodies, which have faced criticism for prioritizing larger tech companies in policy advocacy. Instead, the forum positions itself as a voice for emerging companies, with sector-specific councils addressing challenges in fintech, artificial intelligence, consumer tech, and public companies.
To manage its operations, SPF has onboarded experts from firms like AP & Partners for legal support, Aeka Advisors for taxation issues, and Chase APAC as the Knowledge Secretariat. Additionally, the forum plans to establish advisory and mentor boards to provide strategic direction.
SPF President and CEO Shweta Rajpal Kohli, who has previously worked on public policy for Salesforce and Uber, stated that the forum aims to drive constructive collaboration between startups, government, and regulators to create impactful policy changes.
By addressing sector-specific issues and working closely with regulators on areas like AI ethics and data privacy, the SPF aims to support startups in navigating the complexities of India’s regulatory environment, contributing to their growth and sustainability in a competitive market.
