Cars24 has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem by promoting innovation in artificial intelligence, mobility and road safety.
The partnership is aimed at supporting early-stage startups, product innovators and entrepreneurs through structured skill development programmes, founder mentorship, AI enablement and improved access to investment opportunities. It will also encourage the development of road safety technologies and mobility solutions that address evolving transportation challenges.
As part of the collaboration, Cars24 will establish dedicated programmes for emerging founders, providing access to its technology infrastructure, mentor network, funding ecosystem, industry expertise, market connections and knowledge resources. These initiatives are designed to help startups accelerate product development and scale their businesses more effectively.
DPIIT, through the Startup India initiative, will facilitate wider ecosystem access, national outreach and co-branded programmes while supporting knowledge sharing, policy engagement and collaborative initiatives. By combining Cars24’s expertise in AI-driven automotive technology with Startup India’s extensive entrepreneurial network, the partnership aims to create stronger opportunities for innovation, investment and sustainable startup growth across the country.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to fostering technology-led entrepreneurship and strengthening India’s position as a global hub for innovation in mobility and emerging technologies.
The partnership will be anchored around five key areas of growth:
- Cars24 Founders’ Fellowship will provide strategic mentorship and guidance to early-stage founders, helping them navigate the challenges of building and scaling their ventures.
- Mobility and Autotech Skilling Programmes will equip aspiring founders and innovators with the knowledge, tools and execution capabilities needed to build the next generation of mobility businesses.
- Through Cars24 Labs, startups will gain access to AI enablement, technical expertise and product guidance to accelerate the development of next-generation solutions.
- Fuel by Cars24 will connect promising mobility startups with investors and funding opportunities to help them scale their businesses.
- An annual Innovation Challenge and Road Safety Hackathon, co-created with DPIIT, will identify, nurture and support breakthrough ideas that can improve mobility and road safety across India.
The collaboration reflects Cars24’s belief in giving back to the ecosystem that shaped it, an India-born startup, built on the foundations DPIIT has nurtured, now turning its operational scale into a launchpad for the next generation of builders working on AI, mobility, credit access and safer roads.
Vikram Chopra, Builder, Cars24, said: “Cars24 is proof that Indian founders can start with a difficult, everyday problem and build something on a national scale. We want to pass that possibility on. Through this partnership with DPIIT, we are backing the next generation of builders with more than advice. We want to give them access, capital, talent and a real platform to test ideas that can make India move smarter and safer.”
A senior DPIIT official said: “Industry participation is central to strengthening India’s startup ecosystem. Collaborations of this kind, where an established market leader opens up its scale, mentorship and resources to early-stage founders, are exactly the bridge between ambition and execution that young startups need. We welcome Cars24’s commitment to mentoring, skilling and supporting product startups across the country.”
The MoU is a non-binding expression of intent for collaboration on areas of mutual interest and will remain in force, extendable by mutual agreement. It reflects the shared commitment of both parties to advancing innovation, entrepreneurship and safer mobility in India.
