StartupTN CEO Sivarajah Ramanathan Resigns as Tamil Nadu Names L Nirmal Raj Interim Chief
Updated
Updated · The News Minute · Jun 25
StartupTN CEO Sivarajah Ramanathan Resigns as Tamil Nadu Names L Nirmal Raj Interim Chief
3 articles · Updated · The News Minute · Jun 25
Summary
Tamil Nadu accepted Sivarajah Ramanathan’s resignation as StartupTN mission director and CEO, and gave Industries Commissioner L Nirmal Raj additional charge until further orders.
Ramanathan said the government cleared his exit on Wednesday even though his extended term had been due to run until December 2026.
More than 14,700 DPIIT-recognised startups were recorded in Tamil Nadu during his tenure, up from 2,032 in 2021, as StartupTN expanded beyond Chennai into tier-II and tier-III cities.
StartupTN also rolled out funding, incubation, mentorship and women-focused programmes under Ramanathan, who helped shape the 2023 Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Policy.