Sivarajah Ramanathan resigns as CEO of Tamil Nadu StartupTN mission

Sivarajah Ramanathan has stepped down as Mission Director and CEO of Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission, with L. Nirmalraj taking over as interim leader. His resignation arrives amid speculation about Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government's review of initiatives from previous DMK administration, which could affect future of StartupTN.

BRIC Team

Jun 24, 2026 · 1 min read · 14 views

Sivarajah Ramanathan resigns as CEO of Tamil Nadu StartupTN mission

Key Takeaways

•Sivarajah Ramanathan's resignation as CEO of StartupTN was confirmed, but specific reasons for his departure remain undisclosed.
•Under Ramanathan's leadership, Tamil Nadu's recognized startups surged from 2,032 in 2021 to over 14,700 today.
•The SC/ST Startup Fund, introduced by the DMK, is India's first state-backed equity fund for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes entrepreneurs.
•Almost half of Tamil Nadu's startups are led by women, showcasing a significant shift in the entrepreneurial landscape.
•StartupTN has expanded its reach by establishing hubs in Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli, promoting rural entrepreneurship.

Sivarajah Ramanathan has quit as Mission Director and CEO of Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN). His resignation confirmed, but no specific reasons given. In meantime,L. Nirmalraj,Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce,will take over until further notice .

Startup insiders buzzing. Ramanathan's exit might link to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government's review of projects from old DMK regime. StartupTN,launched under MSME Department,aims to boost Tamil Nadu startups with funding,mentoring.

StartupTN started during AIADMK rule. Its scope expanded by DMK, rolling out new projects like SC/ST Startup Fund . First of its kind in India,this state-backed equity fund targets entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes and Tribes .

Under Ramanathan, Tamil Nadu startups boomed—2,032 in 2021 to over 14,700 now . Over six times growth. Nearly half women-led. Hubs opened in Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli,spreading entrepreneurship beyond cities into rural Tamil Nadu . But what's next for StartupTN...?

#Tamil Nadu