Indian business news portals like The Economic Times and YourStory are pivotal for startups seeking visibility in India’s thriving ecosystem, with over 100,000 DPIIT-recognized startups as of July 30, 2025. Securing a feature on these Indian business news portals can boost credibility, attract investors, and drive customer engagement. With traditional PR agencies charging ₹50,000–₹2,00,000 monthly, free or low-cost media opportunities are vital for bootstrapped ventures. This guide outlines proven strategies to land coverage on top Indian business news portals in 2025, empowering founders to share their stories affordably and effectively.
Table of Contents
Why Business News Portals Matter
Features on Indian business news portals build brand trust, boost SEO through high-domain-authority backlinks, and connect startups with investors, customers, and industry leaders. With India’s startup ecosystem projected to reach 1.8 lakh tech startups by 2030, standing out is critical. Portals like YourStory (500K monthly visitors) and Inc42 (10M readers monthly) offer unparalleled exposure. Free or affordable submissions rival costly PR campaigns, making them essential for early-stage startups seeking growth.
Strategies to Get Featured
1. Craft a Compelling, Newsworthy Story
Indian business news portals prioritize stories with impact, innovation, or human interest. Highlight your startup’s unique value proposition, such as addressing a niche market or driving social change. For instance, a startup like Apna, which empowers blue-collar workers, could pitch its job creation impact to YourStory. Include metrics like funding rounds or user growth to appeal to data-driven portals like Inc42. A founder’s personal journey, such as overcoming adversity, adds emotional appeal for broader audiences.
2. Network with Journalists
Building relationships with journalists is key to accessing Indian business news portals. Attend events like India Startup Festival or Startup India’s Innovation Week to meet reporters covering the startup beat. Follow journalists on LinkedIn and engage with their content thoughtfully, avoiding overt pitches. A personalized email referencing their recent work (e.g., a Business Standard reporter’s piece on agritech) boosts your pitch’s relevance. Research their focus to ensure alignment with your story.
3. Use Press Releases Strategically
Submit press releases through platforms like Startup Newswire or Business Saga for ₹2,000–₹8,000 to reach multiple Indian business news portals. Announce milestones like funding (e.g., 22 startups raised $194M in July 2025) or product launches. Craft releases with clear headlines, key metrics, and a call-to-action. While press releases may not directly boost SEO, they enhance branded search visibility and attract portal editors scouting for news.
4. Create Engaging Content
Produce thought leadership content to draw editorial interest from Indian business news portals. Publish articles on Medium or Substack about industry trends, such as AI’s role in Indian retail, to pitch to Inc42. Share milestones on LinkedIn or X with hashtags like #IndianStartups to gain traction. For example, a viral LinkedIn post about a startup’s sustainability pivot could prompt YourStory to reach out. Consistent, authentic content positions you as an industry expert.
5. Submit to Startup-Focused Portals
Many Indian business news portals offer free or low-cost submission options. Tailor your pitch to their audience and adhere to guidelines. Below are eight top platforms for 2025:
- YourStory: India’s leading startup portal, profiling 60,000+ startups with 500,000 monthly visitors. Submit for free via yourstory.com’s “Submit Your Story” form, emphasizing impact or founder stories. Its investor-heavy audience loves human-interest angles.
- Inc42: A tech-focused platform with 10 million readers and 15,000+ stories. Submit for free via inc42.com, focusing on funding or innovation. Its analytical audience values metrics like revenue growth.
- Startup Story: Targets tier-2/3 startups with 50,000 monthly visitors. Submit for free via startupstorymedia.com, highlighting regional impact. Grassroots narratives resonate with its niche audience.
- Indian Startup News: Offers 90-second video pitches for ₹5,000–₹10,000, attracting 80,000 visitors. Submit via indianstartupnews.com, emphasizing problem-solution fit. Dynamic video formats grab attention.
- StartupTalky: Community-driven with 50,000 visitors and 100,000 Facebook followers. Submit for free via startuptalky.com, sharing actionable insights. Social media engagement amplifies reach.
- The Entrepreneur India: Features interviews for ₹2,000–₹8,000, reaching 70,000 visitors. Submit via theentrepreneurindia.com, emphasizing founder journeys. Inspirational stories appeal to its readers.
- Businessworld Disrupt: Connects startups with investors for ₹5,000–₹10,000, with 100,000 visitors. Submit via bwdisrupt.com, highlighting disruptive ideas. Industry-trend-focused pitches perform well.
- Entrackr: Data-driven, covering funding stories with 120,000 visitors. Submit for free via entrackr.com, focusing on financial milestones. Investor-centric stories gain traction.
Table: Top Platforms for Startup Features (2025)
| Platform | Est. Monthly Visitors (Thousands) | Primary Focus | Submission Process | Cost (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YourStory | 500 | Founder Stories, Impact | Submit Your Story form (yourstory.com) | Free |
| Inc42 | 400 | Tech, Funding, Analytics | Submission form (inc42.com) | Free |
| Startup Story | 50 | Tier-2/3 Startups, Regional | Contact form (startupstorymedia.com) | Free |
| Indian Startup News | 80 | Video Pitches, Innovation | Video/story submission (indianstartupnews.com) | 5,000–10,000 |
| StartupTalky | 50 | Community, Insights | Submission form (startuptalky.com) | Free |
| The Entrepreneur India | 70 | Interviews, Business News | Submission form (theentrepreneurindia.com) | 2,000–8,000 |
| Businessworld Disrupt | 100 | Disruptive Ideas, Investor Focus | Submission form (bwdisrupt.com) | 5,000–10,000 |
| Entrackr | 120 | Funding, Data-Driven Stories | Contact form (entrackr.com) | Free |
This table summarizes each platform’s estimated monthly traffic, primary focus, submission process, and cost. Free platforms like YourStory and StartupTalky offer high reach, while paid options like Indian Startup News provide premium exposure within ₹10,000.
Navigating Challenges
High-traffic Indian business news portals like YourStory and Inc42 receive hundreds of submissions daily, requiring unique pitches to stand out. Early-stage startups compete with unicorns like Zomato, but niche stories—such as a tier-3 city startup digitizing local markets—can shine on Startup Story. Avoid generic pitches by researching platform audiences and editorial focus. Persistence across multiple platforms is key to securing coverage.
Maximizing Your Coverage
Once featured, amplify your coverage on Indian business news portals by sharing it on LinkedIn and X, tagging the platform and journalist to build goodwill. Embed links on your website to boost SEO. Leverage a StartupTalky feature to pitch to Businessworld Disrupt, creating a snowball effect. Engage with reader comments to foster community. For example, a YourStory feature can strengthen a pitch to The Economic Times.
The Future of Startup Media
With 30,925 funded startups raising $573B by July 2025, India’s ecosystem is booming. Indian business news portals are democratizing visibility, enabling startups to rival high-budget PR campaigns. By mastering storytelling, networking, and strategic submissions, founders can secure impactful coverage, driving growth and credibility in 2025 and beyond.
also read: Beyond Conformity: Khanjan Mehta’s Journey into a Purpose-Driven Changemaker
Last Updated on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 2:36 pm by Swayam Sharma | Published by: Swayam Sharma on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 2:36 pm | News Categories: Business, Education, Latest, Trending
About The Author
Leave a Reply