Seventeen startups from tier 2 cities, primarily incubated at the Sona Inclusive Technology Business Incubator in Tamil Nadu, have received government grants and investments totaling Rs 1.1 crore. Under the DST-NIDHI initiative, 12 startups secured grant agreements worth Rs 50 lakh, while the Startup India Seed Fund invested Rs 60 lakh in five ventures. These innovations span healthcare, mobility, sustainability, drones, and food products, highlighting the growing startup ecosystem in these regions.