At Think Salem 2025, 17 tier-2 startups secured government grants and seed funding, highlighting India’s non-metro innovation surge. Salem-based NervePro, DroneTribes, energy startup IswiftPro–Min-Sakthi, and ride-hailing platform Cabocab were among the ventures supported through DST-NIDHI grants and the Startup India Seed Fund, reinforcing the growing strength of regional startup ecosystems.