GUESSS India 2025 Survey: Around 22% of Indian college students have already launched a business, while 43% aspire to become entrepreneurs. The findings highlight growing entrepreneurial interest among students, but also point to gaps in converting ambition into action.

More than one in five Indian college students has already started a business, bringing India close to the global average for student entrepreneurship, according to the GUESSS India 2025 National Survey Report released by IIT Mandi in partnership with REVA University, Bengaluru.

The survey found that 22% of Indian students had already launched a business, compared with the global average of 23%. Meanwhile, 43% of students in India expressed an intention to start a business, matching the global average.

The findings are based on responses from 25,783 students across more than 1,200 higher education institutions in 34 states and Union Territories. The survey offers a snapshot of entrepreneurial aspirations and business activity among students in India’s higher education system.

Student startups move towards commercial activity

The survey also examined whether student-led ventures had progressed beyond the initial idea stage. Among students who had started businesses, 35.5% reported generating regular sales, compared with 33% globally.

The figures suggest that a proportion of student ventures have begun earning revenue rather than remaining at the concept or planning stage. However, regular sales alone do not establish whether these businesses are profitable, sustainable or capable of creating jobs over the long term.

Women show interest in entrepreneurship, but the transition remains uneven

The report also points to a gap between entrepreneurial interest and action among women. Although women expressed an interest in starting businesses at nearly the same rate as men, the transition from aspiration to launching a venture remained uneven.

The finding raises questions about the factors that influence women’s participation in entrepreneurship, including access to funding, mentoring, professional networks and institutional support. Further data on business ownership, funding and venture survival would help clarify the extent of these differences.

What the findings mean for higher education

The survey highlights the role higher education institutions can play in helping students turn business ideas into viable ventures. Entrepreneurship education, incubation centres, mentorship and access to early-stage funding can help students navigate the process of developing and testing business models.

The distinction between aspiration, business creation and regular sales is important. While the findings show that entrepreneurial activity among Indian students is close to the global average, they also underline the need to assess what happens after a business is launched.

For colleges and universities, the challenge extends beyond encouraging students to become entrepreneurs. It is also about equipping them with the skills, resources and support needed to build sustainable enterprises.