Apr 3, 2025

The second edition of Startup Mahakumbh kicked off on Thursday (April 3) on a high note as the crème de la crème of India’s tech ecosystem descended upon New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam. The theme of the second edition of Startup Mahakumbh is “Startup India @ 2047 – Unfolding the Bharat Story”. First launched in 2024, the marquee event has emerged as a key initiative by the government to empower Indian entrepreneurs and recognise their innovation on a global scale. On Day 1, the event hosted thousands of participants with an expansive exhibition of over 3,000+ booths. The event also included booths from government organisations like DPIIT, GeM and MeitY, along with industry giants such as Paytm, Groww, and Swiggy. The inaugural ceremony was attended by key government dignitaries, business stalwarts and new-age innovators including union minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal. The opening plenary session was hosted in the presence of union minister of state for ministry of commerce & industry and ministry of electronics & information technology Jitin Prasada, who put forth in his speech, “It is not only the government and the stakeholders who are sitting on the dais, but each one who is attending the event, who will and has contributed to the growth story of ensuring India does become the developed nation of Bharat by 2047. We want the start-up experts, innovators and industry to collaborate for a better, stronger and a more vibrant India.” The session also saw the presence of  DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, GeM ACEO & CFO Satya Narayan Meena and ECGC Ltd. chairman Sristiraj Ambastha along with other luminaries, Startup Mahakumbh organising committee members and industry leaders. DPIIT joint secretary Shri Sanjiv shared his views on the event and said, “Startup Mahakumbh is not just a platform—it is a movement that showcases India’s innovation potential and paves the way for a stronger, more self-reliant startup ecosystem. The way the startup community, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders have come together to make this event a success is truly commendable.” India’s Top Business Brains Envision The Future Of Country’s Startup Ecosystem During the inaugural plenary-themed ‘Road to Startup India 2047,’ GeM’s CEO Ajay Bhadoo talked about leveraging the government’s marketplace to propel startup growth and innovation. Chiming in, SIDBI chairman and MD Manoj Mittal shared his view on strengthening the startup financing ecosystem in India. Mittal talked about SIDBI’s role in building sustainable financing avenues for Indian startups. The opening plenary session also saw the participation of Nasscom president Rajesh Nambiar and Assocham president Sanjay Nayar. NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, CEA Venkatramanan Anantha Nageswaran, defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Ficci president Harsha Vardhan Agarwal were among the other key figures that attended the event on its first day. Meanwhile, leading entrepreneurs and investors, including Lenskart CEO and cofounder Peyush Bansal, boAt cofounder and CMO Aman Gupta, upGrad cofounder and chairperson Ronnie Screwvala, and Rukam Capital founder and managing partner Archana Jahagirdar also joined the first day of India’s biggest startup conclave. RECOMMENDED FOR yOU 3rd April, 2025 Sharing his views on the future of the workforce, upGrad’s Screwvala said, “Within the next five years, I think 20-25% of workers will handle multiple roles in ways we haven’t seen before.” He advised entrepreneurs to focus on building values rather than only raising funds. “Remember, creating value matters more than just raising capital. And for long-term success, you will have to develop your soft skills and embrace calculated risks that will come your way,” Screwvala added. With more than 10 thematic pavilions on themes such as AI and deeptech, B2B, precision manufacturing, defence and spacetech, biotech and healthcare, mobility, D2C, fintech, gaming and climate tech, the event brought together experts from various industries. The event’s first panel discussion on fintech brought together industry leaders to explore how fintech envisions Bharat and what Bharat truly means to them. Speaking about catering to a nation of 1.4 Bn, Bajaj Capital’s joint chairman & MD Sanjiv Bajaj said, “Bharat is India. It is inclusive. It is everyone—everyone, who can afford a service. Today India is a huge opportunity and you need to choose your niche.” “Today financial inclusion is important for any fintech or even the government of India. But ten years back taking a loan from an app was unimaginable. Yet today there are lakhs of customers who are buying financial products from the apps,” Paytm chief business officer Ripunjai Gaur pointed out. Sharing her views during another panel discussion on healthcare and biotech, IAN cofounder Padmaja Ruparel highlighted the need for higher research capabilities, improvements in infrastructure, and meaningful collaborations between the public and private sectors. “By working together, we can empower young innovators to drive the transformative changes our healthcare system needs,” Ruparel said. Meanwhile, Games 24×7 cofounder and CEO Bhavin Pandya, who participated in the panel on the future of tech in media and entertainment, said, “AI will transform gaming, media, and entertainment through real-time content creation, personalised experiences, and ethical game moderation. However, AI won’t replace humans — it will create opportunities for those who can work effectively with these technologies.” During a fireside chat themed “Banking Tech Stack: Role of Technology in the Financial Ecosystem”, IDFC FIRST Bank MD and CEO V Vaidyanathan said, “Behind every successful venture lies not just a good idea but also the connected digital infrastructure that enables it to scale and adapt.” He emphasised how a robust tech stack can provide both reliability and innovation for a fintech startup. The first day of the Startup Mahakumbh ended with a speech by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, who encouraged entrepreneurs to dream big and think global. “India is not taken lightly today. We are the world’s fifth-largest by GDP, and by 2027, we will be the third-largest economy. This shift in mindset is best reflected at Startup Mahakumbh. We must think big, stay ambitious, and explore the unknown. Let’s not limit ourselves by the past — let’s shape the future with deeptech, innovation, and global aspirations,” noted Goyal. Looking Ahead To Day Two Of Startup Mahakumbh The second day of Startup Mahakumbh will continue the impactful three-day journey with an action-packed agenda featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. The day will kick off with a keynote address by G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. His address will set the stage for a day filled with insightful discussions, industry dialogues, and fireside chats. Following the address, leading voices from India’s startup ecosystem will take the stage, including Intellectual Property Organisation’s Macro M. Aleman, DRDO chairman Samir Kamat, MeitY additional secretary Abhishek Singh, boAt’s Gupta, Navi Group’s Sachin Bansal, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CarDekho’s Amit Jain, among others.