Over 20% of Indian College Students Have Started a Business: IIT Mandi GUESSS Report
More than one in five Indian college students has started a business, according to the GUESSS India 2025 National Survey Report led by IIT Mandi. The survey found that 22% of respondents had started a venture, while 43% said they wanted to become entrepreneurs. The findings place Indian students broadly in line with global averages for both measures.
The report, titled How Do We Make Student Entrepreneurs?, draws on responses from 25,783 students at more than 1,200 higher education institutions across 34 states and Union Territories. IIT Mandi led the study with REVA University, Bengaluru, as its national partner. The findings look at students’ entrepreneurial ambitions as well as the steps they have taken towards building ventures.
Key Findings from the GUESSS India 2025 Report
| Survey finding | India | Global comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Students who want to start a business | 43% | 43% |
| Students who have started a venture | 22% | 23% |
| Student ventures reporting regular sales | About 36% | 33% |
| Students who want to run a business after graduation | 16.2% | Up from 14% in India’s 2023 survey |
The report distinguishes between starting a venture and running one that has reached regular sales. About 8% of surveyed students were already earning regular sales from their businesses. Among students still building a venture, 10% had made a first sale, compared with 23% globally. This points to a gap between entrepreneurial interest and the early commercial steps needed to test a business idea.
What the Survey Says About Student Founders
- Among student businesses with regular sales, 31% were founded in 2025.
- About 41% of student founders said they had closed an earlier business and started another.
- Some 42% reported running two or more businesses.
- Students who knew a startup founder in their social circle were three times more likely to start a venture.
- Women made up 42% of respondents but 34% of student entrepreneurs, indicating a gap in the move from interest to action.
GUESSS India 2025 Report Timeline
- September–December 2025: Survey responses were collected from students across India.
- October 9, 2026: The report was launched at ISBACON 2026 in Mohali.
- October 15, 2026: IIT Mandi and GUESSS India published the report announcement and findings.
The report recommends that universities, incubators and policymakers help students meet founders, connect with mentors and reach their first customers. It also urges institutions to track how many students move from expressing interest in entrepreneurship to actually launching a venture. The survey does not predict which businesses will succeed, but it offers a broad snapshot of student entrepreneurship and the support gaps that colleges may address.
