Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | 24th January 2026: As India’s startup ecosystem scales at an unprecedented pace, founders are facing an increasingly complex risk environment that spans cyber threats, regulatory compliance, workforce challenges, and operational disruptions. While innovation and growth remain top priorities, a single unplanned incident can severely impact business continuity, brand reputation, and investor confidence if risks are not addressed early.
To bridge this critical gap, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, India’s leading private general insurer, launched ‘Startup Shield – The Risk Readiness’, a focused awareness initiative aimed at helping Indian startups identify, evaluate, and mitigate key business risks through structured risk planning and suitable insurance solutions.
The exclusive event brought together more than 100 participants, including startup founders, venture capital and private equity investors, CXOs, industry experts, and risk professionals. The discussions centred on building resilient and future-ready enterprises, encouraging founders to move beyond reactive risk management and adopt a proactive approach to preparedness as they scale.
Prominent voices from across the startup and investment ecosystem participated in the programme, offering diverse perspectives on risk planning and long-term sustainability. The presence of founders and investors representing different stages of the startup lifecycle enriched conversations on governance, operational resilience, and strategic decision-making.
Startup Shield highlighted the importance of risk preparedness at various growth stages, demonstrating how early planning can strengthen governance frameworks, enhance operational continuity, and boost investor confidence. Key sessions addressed emerging and critical risk areas such as cyber and data security, employee health and wellness, professional indemnity, directors and officers (D&O) liability, asset protection, and business interruption.
Subject matter experts from ICICI Lombard shared real-world case studies showcasing how structured risk management and timely insurance coverage have enabled startups to recover from unexpected disruptions, manage legal and financial exposures, and sustain growth with minimal operational impact.
The discussions also emphasized that risk readiness is rapidly becoming a decisive factor in investor due diligence, enterprise partnerships, and board-level evaluations—positioning it as a strategic growth enabler rather than merely a compliance requirement.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Sandeep Goradia, Chief Corporate, International & Bancassurance, ICICI Lombard, said,
“India is now the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 1.8 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups driving innovation, employment, and global competitiveness. As startups pursue ambitious growth, their exposure to unforeseen risks also increases. Through Startup Shield, our objective is to shift the mindset from reacting to risk to anticipating it—helping founders safeguard their people, strengthen their businesses, and build enduring stakeholder trust. We aim to become their long-term risk partners, enabling them to scale with resilience, responsibility, and sustainable profitability.”
Through Startup Shield, ICICI Lombard reaffirmed its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable business growth in India. The initiative forms part of the company’s broader engagement with the startup ecosystem, empowering founders to build enterprises that are not only designed for growth but also prepared to withstand uncertainty.
