Nine startups from Nagaland have secured a total of ₹1 crore in seed funding under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
The initiative, facilitated by the YouthNet Incubation Centre (YIC), culminated in a funding ceremony held on June 17 at the YouthNet Dimapur Office.
The funding aims to address early-stage capital gaps, offering critical support for prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization. By doing so, SISFS seeks to empower promising ventures in their formative stages while fostering self-reliance and innovation within the state’s growing startup landscape.
The selected startups span diverse backgrounds, including entrepreneurs from remote districts like Shamator and Noklak, as well as founders with disabilities.
The 9 Startups from Nagaland include Naga Feather Private Limited, Ura Agritech Private Limited, Shihto Integrated Farm Private Limited, Global Connect Music and Films Private Limited, Tsongyam Innovations Private Limited, Craftycrochet Private Limited, Headhunter Leather Crafting Private Limited, Peter and Cecilia Essence Private Limited, and Nexuscipherguard India (OPC) Private Limited.
Advisor for Industries & Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu, addressed the gathering, stating that the government only supports result-driven startups. She emphasized the importance of building credible success stories to win the trust of investors and institutions, reinforcing that “government has no free money, only performers will be rewarded.”
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YouthNet Director Nuneseno Chase applauded the resilience of the entrepreneurs, stating that they represent the dreams of a new Nagaland, rooted in local talent and driven by global ambition.
Keneirienuo K. Theunuo, Team Leader of Startup Nagaland and Deputy Director at the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, announced that a revised Startup Nagaland Policy will soon be unveiled to further empower entrepreneurs. She highlighted a 200% increase in startup registrations, the highest growth rate in the country.
Neikepekho Shosahie, Associate Director at YouthNet, explained that SISFS follows a milestone-based funding structure, where funds are disbursed in tranches linked to practical progress. This ensures accountability, and provisions allow for termination in case of non-performance or ethical breaches. For debt or convertible-based funding, the model also offers early capital with no immediate repayment burden.
Mentors from the YouthNet Incubation Centre,Yanpvuo Kikon (Kikonic & Kley Enterprise), Dr. Ditalak Mpanme (Nagaland University), and Lanu Akum Imchen (Cloud Mountain) urged the cohort to maintain high quality, long-term focus, and global standards. Their collective message echoed a larger vision: Nagaland’s startups are ready for the world.
The SISFS initiative, driven by Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), continues to play a transformative role in India’s startup ecosystem. Through approved incubators like YIC, the scheme provides transparent, performance-linked seed funding for promising early-stage startups.
