New Delhi, May 15 -- India's startup hiring ecosystem is moving toward a more specialised and productivity-focused phase, with artificial intelligence (AI), software-as-a-service (SaaS), and mid-level talent emerging as major hiring drivers, according to a new report by talent platform foundit.

The report projected startup hiring to grow 12% year-on-year in 2026, with startup jobs increasing from 116,080 in April 2025 to 130,010 in April 2026, adding nearly 14,000 new roles over the year.

Technology-led hiring continued to dominate the startup ecosystem, with IT services accounting for 34% of startup jobs, while emerging technology, AI, and SaaS roles contributed around 14% of overall hiring. The report also showed AI and data-related r...