Bengaluru, Guwahati, Jan 15: HDFC Bank, India’s leading private sector bank, today announced the launch of its exclusive Startup Lounges ahead of the 10th anniversary of the National Startup Day on January 16. The startup lounges, a part of the Bank’s continued focus on strengthening engagement with India’s startup ecosystem, will be launched at the HSR Layout, 24th Main Road branch in Bengaluru, and the GS Road branch, Guwahati.
Startup Lounges will be dedicated to servicing startups while also providing a professional environment for them to work and ideate. Further, the lounges will provide the Bank an ideal space to connect with founders, investors, venture capital firms, and the broader startup ecosystem. The space will also see the Bank host the events involving the startup ecosystem.
Mr. Sampath Kumar, Group Head – Retail Branch Banking and Alternate Banking Channel & Partnerships, HDFC Bank, with responsibility for West and South regions, said,
“With Bengaluru being a vibrant startup hub of the country, the Bank’s Startup Lounge in the city will serve as a networking centre for founders who will be able to work with like-minded people. They can also benefit from the Bank’s exclusive suite of products and services under the Startup Buildup programme. We hope that our Startup Lounge in the city will provide the environment for the startup ecosystem to flourish more.”
Mr. Arun Mediratta, Group Head – Retail Branch Banking and Alternate Banking Channel & Partnerships, HDFC Bank, with responsibility for North, East and Central regions said,
“Guwahati is fast emerging as a centre of the startup ecosystem in the north east region of India, supporting a spirit of entrepreneurship. We’re pleased to have opened a Startup Lounge to welcome startup founders to use the space for working and engaging with the startup community.”
The Bank offers a host of services under the Startup Buildup programme. Some of the key products and services that startups can access under this programme include, Startup Banking Current Account, Collect Now – a digital collection & payments solution, Trade Forex & Offshore Banking, Commercial Cards, ESOP Trust & Share Capital Account, customised Health Insurance, salary accounts for employees, and Credit Facilities under the Central Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) based on meeting the eligibility criteria.
The Bank has an active association with startups. In fact, an initiative called Tech Innovators was introduced in 2024 as an HDFC Bank Group level platform to recognise and celebrate innovation among startups across sectors in the country. It currently works with several startups in areas ranging from domestic and cross–border payments, lending, API development, solutions for government and institutional customers, and agentic AI projects.
HDFC Bank also is a significant contributor to the ecosystem through its participation in the Government’s CGSS as well as well as through HDFC Bank Parivartan, the Bank’s CSR programme.
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