PhonePe, DPIIT partner to extend payments and app-store support to startups

DPIIT-recognised startups will receive PhonePe payment-gateway transaction credits, access to Indus AppStore and scaling support. A separate DPIIT-Shell India partnership will connect energy and climate-tech ventures with mentors, investors and Shell’s E4 Smart Energy Track.

— Source published Thu, 20 Aug, 2026, 20:46 IST · First seen Thu, 20 Aug, 2026, 21:34 IST · Source NDTV Profit

What happened

DPIIT partnered with PhonePe to provide recognised startups payment-gateway transaction credits, Indus AppStore access and scaling support. A separate Shell

Key facts

  • Two separate partnerships
  • Agreements signed on August 19

Why this matters

Startups in payments, consumer apps, energy and climate tech gain new partnership routes through PhonePe’s distribution stack and the separate DPIIT-Shell mentor, investor and Smart Energy Track network.

What to watch

  • Number of startups enrolled, activated and still processing through PhonePe after promotional credits expire.
  • PhonePe disclosure of payment-gateway merchant additions, payment volumes, take rate or startup-program conversion metrics.
  • Indus AppStore monthly active users, downloads, developer retention and share of participating startups publishing there.
  • Whether Android OEMs, especially Indian-market handset vendors, expand Indus AppStore preinstallation or default placement.
  • New DPIIT-linked partnerships with competing payment gateways, cloud providers or app stores.
  • Regulatory developments affecting alternative app-store billing, app-store distribution rules or digital-payment incentives.
  • PhonePe will likely announce a formal startup package combining payment-gateway credits, onboarding support, fraud/risk tools and Indus AppStore listing incentives.
  • DPIIT may expand the model through additional private-sector partners in cloud, logistics, SaaS, AI, cybersecurity and market access.
  • PhonePe may use participating startup cohorts to cross-sell merchant payments, lending, advertising, account aggregation or commerce-discovery products.
  • Indus AppStore is likely to emphasize local-language distribution, lower commission positioning and India-specific developer support to differentiate from Google Play.
  • Fintech competitors may launch or deepen incubator, accelerator and government-startup-program partnerships with comparable transaction-credit offers.