Government First: Inter-departmental co-operation is key, say start-ups on Karnataka initiative
The Karnataka government is launching the 'Government First' initiative to allow startups to test their solutions directly within government departments. The program aims to support 100 startups with pilot projects in areas like AI, healthcare, and digital governance.
Why it matters
By acting as a first customer, the government helps startups validate their products, fostering local innovation and public sector modernization.
As the Government of Karnataka plans to roll out the ‘Government First’ initiative, which aims to create a pathway for startups to work directly with government departments and test their solutions with them, the startup community and the IT-BT department pin hopes on inter-departmental cooperation for the success of the programme.
Formulated under the Special Initiative of the Startup Policy 2025–30 of Karnataka , the initiative will support around 100 startups over three years, with a total outlay of ₹25 crore. Eligible startups with deployment-ready solutions can receive work orders of up to ₹25 lakh for pilot implementation and validation.
The idea, according to Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka, is ‘to make the government a first customer and partner for promising start-ups’ and ‘to bring government and innovators together, making technology a powerful force for public good’.
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