PRIME Meghalaya Achieves Major Milestone with 75 Startups Onboarded and 75 Graduated
In a significant boost to Meghalaya's entrepreneurial landscape, the Promotion and Incubation of Market-Driven Enterprises (PRIME) Meghalaya program has reached a pivotal milestone. The initiative has successfully onboarded 75 new startups under the Chief Minister's E-Championship Challenge (CMECC) 6.0 while simultaneously graduating another 75 startups from its fifth cohort. This dual achievement underscores the program's accelerating momentum in fostering innovation and business growth across the state.
Substantial Economic Impact and Government Commitment
According to an official statement released by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) on Thursday, PRIME has now supported approximately 5,000 entrepreneurs to date. The program has disbursed a substantial Rs 200 crore in funding and has been instrumental in creating nearly 7,000 direct employment opportunities. These figures position entrepreneurship as a central driver of economic growth and job creation in Meghalaya, aligning with the state's broader development strategy.
The onboarding and graduation ceremony, held at the scenic Ward's Lake in Shillong, brought together a diverse gathering of entrepreneurs, policymakers, mentors, and ecosystem partners. This convergence reflects the government's unwavering dedication to cultivating a robust and sustainable startup ecosystem that can compete on a national scale.
Comprehensive Support Under CMECC 6.0
Under the newly launched CMECC 6.0 framework, PRIME is providing targeted financial and developmental support to the selected startups. The top 35 performing startups will receive business grants of Rs 2 lakh each, while the next 40 will be awarded Rs 1 lakh each. Beyond financial assistance, all participants will benefit from a structured nine-month incubation program designed to nurture their ventures from ideation to market readiness.
This comprehensive support package includes access to specialized training sessions, personalized mentorship from industry experts, crucial market linkages, buyer exposure opportunities, and clear pathways to secure additional grants, loans, and venture capital funding. The holistic approach ensures that startups receive not just capital but the strategic guidance necessary for long-term success.
Leadership Vision and Program Reach
In his address at the event, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma reaffirmed the government's steadfast commitment to entrepreneurship as a core pillar of Meghalaya's economic strategy. He highlighted the growing national recognition that the state's startup ecosystem has garnered, attributing this success to initiatives like PRIME and CMECC.
Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner and Secretary of the Planning Department, provided detailed insights into the program's extensive reach. CMECC 6.0 attracted an impressive nearly 4,000 applications from aspiring entrepreneurs across the state. To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, PRIME teams conducted extensive outreach, visiting close to 2,500 villages to identify and support potential entrepreneurs through innovative doorstep incubation services.
Future Targets and Success Stories
Looking ahead, the state has ambitious plans to further amplify its entrepreneurial impact. An additional Rs 80 crore is currently in the pipeline for future disbursements. Moreover, Meghalaya has set a bold target of generating over 25,000 direct and indirect jobs by the year 2032 through these sustained efforts.
The event also served as a platform for entrepreneurs to share their transformative journeys. Ferdinand Lyngdoh Marshillong, founder of the startup Ekanbha, exemplified this success. After receiving a Rs 60 lakh grant through PRIME, his venture scaled significantly, leading to his recent honor with the prestigious National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2025.
With these concerted efforts, the Meghalaya government, through PRIME, continues to strengthen the pillars of entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation. This reinforces the state's emerging reputation as a leading startup ecosystem in India, poised for continued growth and national influence.
