New Delhi: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zepto Private Limited to support and scale early-stage startups in the manufacturing sector under the ‘Zepto Nova’ innovation challenge.

The partnership will run a six-month programme to identify and mentor startups working in hardware, IoT, packaging and sustainable manufacturing. Selected startups will receive guidance to advance from prototype to market-ready solutions, leveraging Zepto’s delivery network and digital infrastructure.

Support will include mentorship, capacity building through expert-led workshops, and assistance from Startup India. The initiative will place special focus on women-led ventures and startups from Tier II and III cities. Zepto will integrate more than 100 Indian startups into its supply chain, giving them opportunities to showcase products, gain market access and expand their reach.

“Support from unicorns is one of the most impactful ways to uplift startups, enabling them to learn from the journey of successful ventures. It is not just an opportunity but also a responsibility for unicorns to contribute to the ecosystem. Market access remains a critical enabler for the success of startups,” said Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT.

The MoU was signed by Sumeet Jarangal, Director, DPIIT, and Kaivalya Vohra, Co-founder, Zepto.

Kaivalya Vohra said, “The partnership with DPIIT will support startups in building the future of manufacturing through the Zepto Nova programme.”

BI Bureau