Guwahati: HDFC Bank on Wednesday announced the launch of exclusive Startup Lounges in Bengaluru and Guwahati as part of its efforts to deepen engagement with India’s growing startup ecosystem, ahead of National Startup Day on January 16.
The lounges will be set up at the HSR Layout, 24th Main Road branch in Bengaluru, and the GS Road branch in Guwahati.
According to the bank, the initiative is aimed at providing startups with a dedicated professional space for working, collaboration and ideation, while also enabling closer interaction with founders, investors, venture capital firms and other stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Officials said the Startup Lounges will also serve as venues for hosting events and networking activities involving the startup community.
The initiative is part of the bank’s broader focus on supporting entrepreneurship through customised banking solutions and partnerships.
Sampath Kumar, Group Head – Retail Branch Banking and Alternate Banking Channel & Partnerships at HDFC Bank, said Bengaluru’s status as a major startup hub makes it an ideal location for such a facility.
He said the Startup Lounge in the city would act as a networking centre where founders can collaborate and access the bank’s suite of products and services under its Startup Buildup programme.
Arun Mediratta, Group Head – Retail Branch Banking and Alternate Banking Channel & Partnerships, said Guwahati is emerging as an important startup centre in the Northeast, driven by a growing entrepreneurial spirit.
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He said the new lounge would provide founders in the region with a space to work and engage with the broader startup community.
Under its Startup Buildup programme, HDFC Bank offers a range of services to startups, including current accounts, digital collection and payment solutions, trade forex and offshore banking, commercial cards, ESOP trust and share capital accounts, customised health insurance, salary accounts and credit facilities under the Central Guarantee Scheme for Startups, subject to eligibility.
The bank said it has been actively associated with startups through multiple initiatives, including the Tech Innovators platform launched in 2024 to recognise innovation across sectors.
HDFC Bank also supports the startup ecosystem through its participation in government schemes such as the CGSS and through its CSR arm, HDFC Bank Parivartan.
