Tamil NaduThursday, 25 June 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
StartupTN CEO Sivarajah Ramanathan resigns; Tamil Nadu startup ecosystem crossed 14,700 recognised startups
StartupTN CEO Sivarajah Ramanathan resigned on June 23, 2026, as Tamil Nadu’s recognised startups rose from 2,032 in 2021 to over 14,700.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On June 23, 2026, Sivarajah Ramanathan resigned as Mission Director and Chief Executive Officer of StartupTN, the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission under the MSME Department.
Key specifics
- The relieving order was issued on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
- L. Nirmalraj, Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce, was given full additional charge.
- DPIIT-recognised startups in Tamil Nadu increased from 2,032 in 2021 to more than 14,700.
- StartupTN’s regional hubs include Coimbatore, Madurai, Erode, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Salem, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Thoothukudi and Hosur.
- The report says the SC/ST Startup Fund was introduced by the DMK government and is the country’s first State-backed equity fund for SC/ST entrepreneurs.
Exam lens
TNPSC Tamil Nadu governance and economy question angle: StartupTN, 2021, 2026, DPIIT-recognised startups, SC/ST Startup Fund. One-liner: remember the mission under MSME Department and the sharp rise in startup numbers across Tamil Nadu.