ET Startup Awards 2026 | Tier-II cities rechart startup geography: IDFC First Bank’s Vaidyanathan

The startup story is not confined to a handful of sectors or cities, but is being shaped by talent and ideas across the country, Vaidyanathan said. About 52% of the startups banking with IDFC First Bank come from tier-II and -III locations, reflecting the widening geography of entrepreneurship, he said.