Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day Startup Conclave 2025 on Tuesday at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The event serves as a premier platform to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from across India for a comprehensive display of innovation and vital policy discussions aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem.
Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Higher Education Minister Rushikesh Patel, Amit Shah lauded the country’s youth for their shift from ‘job-seekers to job-creators’, urging investors to back early-stage startups.
He highlighted the significant contribution of startups, noting that they have generated employment for approximately 1.79 million people.
Remarkably, 48 per cent of new startups are founded by women, signalling the sector’s expanding social and economic impact.
“The Startup Conclave is a platform to convert India’s knowledge and innovation into jobs and businesses,” Shah said.
He encouraged investors to ‘help new startups grow’, predicting a future where startups will, in turn, generate wealth for their backers.
A Wide-Ranging Showcase of Innovation
The event features over 170 startups presenting their products and services across a spectrum of sectors, including technology, healthcare, agritech, fintech, and green energy.
Attendees can explore prototypes and live demonstrations, engage in a round-table conference connecting founders with industry experts, and participate in seven themed sessions focusing on scaling innovation, financing models, and strengthening university-industry partnerships.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel welcomed the conclave as a significant step in bolstering Gujarat’s reputation as a centre for entrepreneurship.
Higher Education Minister Rushikesh Patel emphasised the crucial role of universities and research institutions in mentoring startups and converting academic research into market-ready ventures.
While participants praised the conclave’s visibility and networking opportunities, many flagged ongoing challenges such as limited access to early-stage capital and pilot customers.
An exhibitor noted, “Access to early-stage capital and pilot customers remains a bottleneck for many founders.”
Investors echoed the need for clearer pathways for pilot procurement and sector-specific incubation, particularly for startups in climate and health technologies.
A round-table discussion on the sidelines deliberated on practical solutions, including improving beneficiary registries, introducing blended finance mechanisms for climate tech, and incentivising institutional procurement from startups.
Towards Actionable Outcomes
Organisers aim for the conclave to produce actionable policy recommendations for both state and central governments, alongside launching a matchmaking platform to connect startups with investors and procurement opportunities.
As the two-day event continues, its success will be measured by tangible outcomes: firm investor commitments, pilot projects involving government partners, and policy reforms that ease the path from prototype to market scale.
Moreover, for many founders present, the immediate goal remains straightforward—convert exposure into funding, customers, and contracts that ensure sustainability beyond the proof of concept.
This event underscores Gujarat’s commitment to fostering innovation-driven growth and positioning itself as a leading startup ecosystem in India.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan Wins First National Award For Best Actor At 71st National Film Awards
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
