Startup Mahakumbh’s Sector-Specific Pavilions To Foster Dialogue: DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh

In the run up to India’s largest startup event — the Startup Mahakumbh — Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said the three-day summit is envisioned as a facilitator of dialogue between the various stakeholders of the mushrooming ecosystem.

Speaking to Inc42, Singh said that the event is expected to host over 1,000 startups and investors each and over 500 startup incubators and accelerators. Besides, at least 40,000 business visitors, 5,000 future entrepreneurs as well as at least 10 international delegations are expected to partake in the two day event. 

“Although India hosts a big startup ecosystem, we have never had an event which brings everybody together. With Startup Mahakumbh, our intention is not only just to showcase the startup ecosystem of India but also enable the various stakeholders to engage with each other to further the dynamism in the ecosystem,” Singh added. 

It is pertinent to note that there are about 1.2 Lakh DPIIT-registered startups in the country.

To foster more connected sectors, the event will be segregated to host multiple pavilions. Different pavilions will focus on AI and SaaS, agritech, B2B and manufacturing, biotech and pharma, deeptech, climate tech, D2C and consumer facing platforms, gaming and esports, fintech, incubators and accelerators.

“The idea is to cover the technological advances in all these sectors. These pavilions are designed to foster engagement and dialogue between startups, investors and the industry stakeholders. These connections could lead to effective collaborations later,” he added.

The idea behind the Startup Mahakumbh is that young and aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from those who have built large startups. It also brings together venture capitalists, angel investors, and family offices under one roof to enable meaningful networking and dialogue. 

It is being organised by industry body ASSOCHAM, Nasscom, Bootstrap Incubation & Advisory Foundation, TiE, and the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA).

Furthering its bid to unite the various stakeholders of the startup ecosystem on a single platform, the union government unveiled the Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry during the Startup Mahakumbh’s curtain raiser ceremony. The registry will potentially act as a binding force for the growing ecosystem.

While the registry will serve as a single platform database for startups, investors, incubators, and other stakeholders in the country’s startup ecosystem, Singh said the government will also be leveraging the registry to discover and empower startups that could help tackle specific sectoral problems.  

“The government would potentially be looking to identify solutions that startups are offering to address particular sectoral problems. These solutions could range from aiding in waste management,  bioenergy, or conversion of animal or plant residue into value added products. Further, established corporates can also look at that registry and see some interesting ideas which can have some value for their businesses,” Singh added.