Rajasthan DigiFest 2022: Government Of Rajasthan To Host A Two-Day Event To Boost Startup Innovation

India’s startup revolution is no longer limited to the big metropolitans or the privileged urban populace. Instead, it is being driven by smaller cities and towns that are emerging from the shadows of major startup hubs such as Bengaluru and Delhi. 

According to government data, nearly 50% of all registered startups, come from tier 2 and 3 cities.

The impressive growth of startups in non-metros indicates that technology adoption outside big cities is finally picking up pace. And when it comes to startup funding, investors are equally optimistic about startups in these locations. 

Consider this: According to Inc42 data, Jaipur is among the top ten startup hubs in India by funding and deal count. In addition, it also emerged as the top tier 2 startup hub for consumer internet funding in Q2, 2022 — raising a total of $30.1 Mn in funding. 

Overall, the state of Rajasthan has emerged as a hotbed for startup innovation in recent years. Inc42’s latest report on India’s startup ecosystem revealed that the state’s 315+ startups have raised close to $1.1 Bn in funding over the years. 

The government of Rajasthan has actively promoted startup innovation in the state through various acceleration and incubation programmes, events and meetups. To celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship in the state, the government is organising the Rajasthan DigiFest 2022. It will be hosted on 19th and 20th August in Birla Auditorium, Jaipur, Rajasthan. 

The two-day event aims to bring together entrepreneurs, students, technophiles and stakeholders from the startup ecosystem under a single roof to discuss, interact and collaborate with the government and public at large. 

The event will be addressed by the chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, who will also be facilitating the launch of state-owned iStart Nest incubators (under the iStart Rajasthan initiative) in Kota, Churu and Bikaner to foster innovation and support startups.

For the unversed, iStart Rajasthan is Rajasthan government’s flagship programme to foster innovation, create jobs and facilitate investment in the state. It is a comprehensive platform intended to connect startups with more than 100 investors and give them access to resources, incubators and accelerators. Since its inception in 2017, iStart Rajasthan has been instrumental in creating more than 20K jobs and facilitating investment of INR 198 Cr in the state. 

Who Are The Speakers At The Event?

The two-day event will host investors, corporates, incubators and academia to help startup enthusiasts, students and entrepreneurs connect, discuss and access opportunities in the startup world.

The event will feature an eminent list of speakers including the likes of motivational speaker and divisional director of ISKCON, Shri Gauranga Das; Dr Velumani Arokiaswamy, founder and MD of Thyrocare; Alakh Pandey, founder and CEO of edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah; Akhil Gupta, cofounder and CTO of NoBroker.com; Shivani D Malik, marketing director of Da Milano among many others. 

What To Expect At Rajasthan DigiFest 2022

Startup Expo: According to its website, Rajasthan DigiFest 2022 will host the largest exhibition of products and services by startups from the state of Rajasthan. The event will give an opportunity to more than 100 iStart recognised startups to showcase their offerings as well as interact and pitch their ideas before government officials. Startups will also be showcasing and selling their products to a wide audience including SHGs (self help groups) and startups from rural areas.

Insightful Sessions: Industry leaders, enablers and veterans from the startup ecosystem will be speaking on a range of diverse and relevant trends and topics. The event will feature a mix of conferences, power talks, fireside chats, panel discussions and knowledge sessions with speakers across India. 

The speakers will deep dive into the startup landscape, exploring themes such as designing products for the metaverse, finding the next sports tech unicorn and women empowerment and diversity in the startup ecosystem. Additionally, the speakers will help the participants understand how they can build and scale their startup, prepare for interviews among several other themes.

iStart School Student Fest: To support young minds in their entrepreneurial pursuit and create leaders of tomorrow, the event will host an exclusive startup fest wherein more than 3000 students across 50+ schools from various districts of Rajasthan will be given an opportunity to participate in business quizzes, competitions and pitching sessions. 

Other Key Highlights: The government will promote exclusive coverage of stories of entrepreneurial grit to highlight the startup culture in Rajasthan. The two-day event will also feature a drone expo, technology film festival, performances, corporate training, and wellness sessions for the participants. 

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