Indian startup ecosystem aims for global dominance with first ever Startup Mahakumbh

The event is expected to host 1000+ startups, 10+ thematic tracks, 1000+ investors, 500+ incubators & accelerators

India is all set to witness its first-ever 'Startup Mahakumbh’, the largest celebration of Indian startups from March 18-20, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Spearheaded by the collaborative efforts of ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM, Bootstrap Incubation & Advisory Foundation, TiE and Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), the event will cement India's reputation as a melting pot of innovation and amplify the country’s global startup footprint.

With the purpose of enabling handshakes and connecting startups with a spectrum of inventors such as VCs, angel investors, family offices, and HNIs- as well as potential corporate partners, the event is expected to host 1000+ startups, 10+ thematic tracks, 1000+ investors, 500+ incubators & accelerators, 5000+ conference delegates, 10+ country delegations, 5000+ future entrepreneurs and 40,000+ business visitors over the span of three days.

The event is supported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Department of Commerce (DoC), India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Government-e-Marketplace (GeM), Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) and Zomato.

Ahead of the main event, the organising committee for Startup Mahakumbh hosted the curtain raiser for the event at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 27 February, in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & Textiles, Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT and Prashant Kumar Singh, CEO, Government e-Marketplace.

Participants will have the chance to immerse themselves in the world of AI + SaaS, D2C/Consumer brands, Agritech, Fintech, Deep Tech, Biotech & Pharma, Incubators, Climate Tech, E-sports, and B2B Manufacturing.

Piyush Goyal said, “Throughout the three days of Startup Mahakumbh, the startups will be able to engage with investors, and relevant stakeholders and create a sub ecosystem to support each other with ideas and learn from the experience of others.We will also see participation from students to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship, spirit of inquiry in them and help them go back with confidence and talk about the New India and the story of emerging India."

Towards the end of his keynote, Hon’ble Minister added that, “A great India story is unfolding in front of each one of you (young India) and you will be the flag bearers of the story in Amrit kaal, that is moving towards Viksit Bharat.” Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, said, “We are hoping to see 1000+ startups, 1000+ investors, 500+ incubators at the event. We have also invited 21 startup bridges countries to actively participate and engage with startups and inspire them during Startup Mahakumbh.”

The curtain raiser also saw participation from members of the organising committee and leading stakeholders of the startup ecosystem such as Prashanth Prakash, Executive Council Member - IVCA,  Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Info Edge, Archana Jahagirdar, Founding and Managing Partner, Rukam Capital, Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO, Invest India, and Sanjay Nayar, Sr Vice President, ASSOCHAM & Founder and Chairman, Sorin Investments, along with representation from the startup ecosystem.

We are really excited to meet the startup ecosystem at the Startup Mahakumbh and they can count on Invest India to be their support. We are here to support and reiterate on how Invest India can help in development and flourishment of the Indian startup ecosystem. I believe that entrepreneurship and policy is the way for us to grow.” remarked Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO, Invest India.

During the event, Sanjay Nayar, member, Organising Committee, Startup Mahakumbh, highlighted that “There is no better time to position India as the startup hub in the global map. We hope that March 18-20 will be pretty historic. We will 100s of startups across states and districts, with an international touch. During Startup Mahakumbh, our efforts are to ensure focus on everything starting from B2B SaaS to pharmacy, agritech and everything.”

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, member, Organising Committee, Startup Mahakumbh said, “Startup Mahakumbh will provide the right platform to showcase the pace at which the Startup ecosystem in India is evolving. From enabling handshakes to help build the right network, we expect more than 1000+ startups, 1000+ investors, 500+ incubators & accelerators, 5000+ conference delegates, 10+ country delegations, and 40,000+ business visitors to be a part of the event. These three days will be a big showcase and reflection of India’s innovating and growing startup ecosystem and will bring the right mindsets, ideas and energies in one place.”

Prashanth Prakash, member, Organising Committee, Startup Mahakumbh said, “The Indian startup ecosystem has grown significantly in the past decade, however there is not a single unified platform that brings all aspects of the ecosystem together to showcase the scale and magnitude of the startup industry. Startup Mahakumbh is the conglomeration of startups across sectors, be it agri, biotech, climate tech or manufacturing and brings the right leaders and stakeholders to connect and engage with each other’s to further propel the growth of the industry. I believe Startup Mahakumbh will act as a platform that will bring real innovators together in front of founders and funders both who have succeeded and failed and learn from each other.”

Startup Mahakumbh promises to showcase unparalleled innovation, highlighting transformative products, cutting-edge technologies, revolutionary business models across diverse sectors, along with opportunity to interact with top voices in the startup ecosystem including Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV, Harish Bahl, Founder, Smile Interactive Group, Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato, Harshil Mathur, Co-Founder & CEO, Razorpay, and Vineet Rai, Founder & Chairman, Aavishkaar Group. It will also connect Indian startups with international networks to unlock new opportunities and position India as a melting pot of entrepreneurial brilliance on the global stage, paving way for collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions that underscore India & dynamism in entrepreneurship. At the heart of Startup Mahakumbh lie multiple unique pavilions, each a beacon of sector- specific innovation and trends.

These pavilions are meticulously curated to showcase the forefront of technological advancements and industry insights across a diverse range of fields. Participants will have the chance to immerse themselves in the world of AI + SaaS, D2C/Consumer brands, Agritech, Fintech, Deep Tech, Biotech & Pharma, Incubators, Climate Tech, Gaming & Esports, and B2B Manufacturing. Notably, the event will mark a significant milestone by introducing a dedicated pavilion for the B2B manufacturing sector for the first time in India, offering a unique platform for startups in this space to shine. These thematic pavilions are designed to foster engaging conversations and connections among startups, investors, and industry stakeholders, enabling innovative collaborations.

Published on : 28th February, 2024