Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) inaugurated the 2nd edition of Startup Mahakumbh which was held from April 3 to 5, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi.
- The event aimed to bolster India’s startup ecosystem by uniting entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, and industry leaders from across the nation and over 50 countries.
About Startup Mahakumbh 2025:
i.The Startup Mahakumbh 2025, the world’s largest event for startups and innovation, was organized by the New Delhi-based Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), with support from various key industry associations such as the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), and the Bootstrap Foundation.
ii.The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), MoC&I); Startup India; and the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) backing the event.
- India’s strengths in DeepTech, AgriTech, BioTech, MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Gaming, and other emerging sectors were showcased through dedicated sector-specific pavilions at the event.
iii.One of the themes of the event is “Start-up India @ 2047: Unfolding the Bharat Story”, aimed to lay the foundation for transforming India into a global startup leader by the time the nation celebrates its 100th year of independence in 2047.
Highlights of Startup Mahakumbh 2025:
Key announcements:
i.During the event, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, announced the approval of a Second Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) with a corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore (USD 1.17 billion).
- An initial disbursement of Rs. 2,000 crore (USD 234.4 million) is slated for the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) within this year.
- This fund aims to provide seed support, particularly targeting startups in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, machine learning, quantum computing, biotechnology, and semiconductor design.
ii.He also introduced the formation of a dedicated Startup India Desk within the MoC&I. This initiative will serve as a helpline for startups across India, accessible via a simple four-digit toll-free number in regional languages, facilitating support and addressing concerns of entrepreneurs nationwide.
Startup Maharathi Challenge 2025:
At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, presented the Startup Maharathi Challenge 2025, recognising the remarkable efforts of startups that are shaping India’s innovation journey.
- The event saw participation, with 2,400 challengers and 3,000 exhibitors showcasing their ideas and products.
- The challenge disbursed a total of Rs. 20 crore in non-dilutive grants, promoting innovation by supporting startups without requiring equity dilution.
Key Awards:
- Ngurie Organic Private Limited from Peren, Nagaland and incubated at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati(IIT-G), Assam, was crowned the champion for its transformative work in sustainable agriculture.
- City Greens from Bengaluru, Karnataka was recognized among the top agritech startups.
- Ruhvenile Biochemicals, incubated at Punjab Agricultural University, clinched the title for their innovative solutions in agribusiness.
- OurGuest Travels, a homegrown travel startup from Sikkim and incubated at IIM Kolkata, emerged as a proud winner, showcasing their platform that aggregates over 600 homestays and 40+ guided travel experiences across the Northeast.
- Guwahati(Assam) based Flixbox Solutions LLP, known for their Skara app, was announced as a winner, highlighting their contributions to the B2B sector.
- New Delhi based SkillingYou was honored for empowering rural youth through innovative educational solutions, serving over 5 lakh individuals.
IFF Launched as Self-Regulatory Body for Fintech Sector at Startup Mahakumbh 2025
The India Fintech Foundation (IFF), has been officially launched as a proposed self-regulatory organisation (SRO) for India’s fintech sector. The logo of IFF was unveiled by Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 (Group of 20) Sherpa.
- Former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), NS Viswanathan, will head the IFF Board. Sai Sudha Chandrasekaran, previously the Head of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) for APAC (Asia-Pacific) at Invest India, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Other Points:
i.Startups from Kerala, nurtured by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), participated in the Startup Mahakumbh 2025, where around 25 ventures from various sectors showcased their innovative ideas and products, explored business opportunities, and signed key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
ii.At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) showcased innovations from 15 livestock and dairy startups, featuring technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based health monitoring, smart collars, milk safety kits, and blockchain solutions.
iii.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) promoted energy innovation at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, where 32 startups supported by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) took part.
About Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI):
President – Harsha Vardhan Agarwal
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1927
