India’s 2026 BRICS chairship is putting startups and innovation at the centre of its economic agenda, with the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund emerging as one of the key initiatives being discussed ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
The proposed fund aims to catalyse financing for early-stage and growth-stage startups and encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship across BRICS countries. Alongside the fund, India has proposed a BRICS Incubator Network to connect startups, incubators and national agencies across member countries.
What Is the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund?
The BRICS Startup Innovation Fund is intended to create a mechanism that can improve access to capital for promising startups across member countries.
For founders, the opportunity could extend beyond funding. A stronger BRICS startup ecosystem could help create connections with investors, incubators, mentors, technology partners and international markets.
The proposed BRICS Incubator Network would provide a digital interface connecting national nodal agencies, selected incubators and startups. It could also enable qualified startups to connect with incubators in other BRICS countries.
Who Is Behind the Initiative?
Unlike a conventional startup or venture capital fund, the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund does not have individual founders.
The initiative has been proposed by India during its 2026 BRICS chairship as part of efforts to strengthen industrial and innovation cooperation among member countries.
India formally proposed the BRICS Incubator Network and BRICS Startup Innovation Fund at the 10th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur in August 2026.
BRICS currently comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE.
Why It Matters for Founders
For startups, raising capital is only one part of the growth journey. Access to new markets, technology, partnerships and international networks can be equally important.
A BRICS-wide startup network could help reduce some of these barriers by creating stronger connections between entrepreneurial ecosystems across member countries.
For example, an Indian deeptech startup could potentially connect with an incubator or technology partner in another BRICS country, while startups from other member nations could explore opportunities within India’s large technology and consumer ecosystem.
Still in the Development Stage
The BRICS Startup Innovation Fund is not yet an open funding programme for startups.
As of September 11, 2026, details such as the fund’s corpus, investment structure, eligibility criteria and launch timeline have not been publicly finalised.
The initiative is among the proposals being discussed ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026.
A Potential New Chapter for Emerging-Market Startups
If implemented effectively, the initiative could go beyond being a funding mechanism and help build a cross-border startup ecosystem connecting founders, investors, incubators and technology networks across emerging economies.
For India, the initiative also supports its broader ambition of strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship and international cooperation during its BRICS chairship.
The real impact will depend on how the fund is structured, when it becomes operational and whether it can translate cooperation into capital, partnerships and market access for startups.
For now, the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund remains an initiative under development, but it could eventually create a new pathway for ambitious startups across emerging markets to scale internationally.