Dignitaries who’d address the Inaugural Ceremony:
• Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Minister of Commerce & Industry
• Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
• Smt. Shruti Singh, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
• Shri Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder & Executive Vice Chairman, Info Edge India Ltd
• Shri Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Co-Founder & CEO, Urban Company
• Smt. Kritika Singh, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
India’s booming startup landscape has evolved from being in its nascent stage to becoming the 3rd largest in the world. We have more than 60,000 startups across 628 districts from all 28 States and 8 Union Territories. India ranks 46th in the Global Innovation Index 2021 (GII) from 81st in 2015. This wouldn’t have been possible without a conducive business environment enabled by the government, which has been at the forefront of bringing in policies and initiatives to drive and implement innovation.

To commemorate the 75th year of India’s Independence - ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ - and reinvigorate the startup momentum, showcase their progress, and to further facilitate the Atmanirbhar Bharat through entrepreneurship, DPIIT is organising the Startup Innovation Week from 10th – 16th January 2022.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Setting the context for the week's activities
• Projection of the Indian Startup Ecosystem's growth trajectory
• Sharing of thoughts by a few industry veterans on the evolving startup landscape

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• How can India serve as a model for other countries in terms of developing a robust startup ecosystem
• The significance of convergence and collaboration among various startup stakeholders, in order to increase the vibrancy of the startup ecosystem, particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities, to support new entrepreneurs and innovators

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary, Government of India
• Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology
• Shri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures
• Shri Aditya Natraj, CEO, Piramal Foundation
• Shri Sanjeev Kapoor, Celebrity Chef, Entrepreneur & Television Personality
• Smt. Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Nowadays, startups and young entrepreneurs are transforming the way businesses and government sectors operate through their innovative ideas and inventions. Businesses and government bodies that do not adapt will fall behind. All entities today require a new innovative approach and startups have been playing an important role by developing a variety of innovative products or services to address challenges. The panel will discuss the role of corporate bodies and the government in nurturing and mentoring startups to help them scale their ideas. The discussion will also be around how corporates and Government departments can partner to support the ecosystem with joint initiatives.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Corporate's and Government’s role in supporting startups to help them scale their ideas
• Importance of Public-Private Partnerships in nurturing the ecosystem

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Ways in which startups may develop new growth strategies
• How can startups use open innovation to achieve this goal
• Key challenges and ways to address them

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Kumar Vembu, Founder, Gofrugal
• Smt. Nupur Goenka, Executive Director, Tally
• Shri. K. Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India
• Shri Sameer Nigam, Founder, PhonePe
• Shri. Madhur Deora, President and Group CFO, PayTm
• Smt. Anjali Bansal, Founder, Avaana Capital (Moderator)

Session Brief:
The growth of Digital Commerce in India has been accelerated due to the ongoing digital transformation, with access to smartphones and internet connectivity at affordable costs. The markets have flourished digitally in the last few decades, allowing providers and consumers to move the interactions online. The digital landscape has brought a significant shift in how goods and services are delivered and has transformed market interactions in many ways.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its associated disruptions enhanced the adoption and preference for digital commerce furthermore, and the vibrant startup ecosystem helped in boosting the digital commerce landscape in the country. But the pandemic also exposed the critical shortcomings of the Indian digital commerce ecosystem. With most of the supply chain being digitally absent, millions of Kirana stores, unorganised and self-organised sectors were found digitally excluded. Even on the consumer side, only a small portion of the internet users in India are retail shoppers.

For the overall growth of the digital commerce sector, with broad-based participation from buyers and sellers, there is a need to alter the current market structure and reduce barriers to adoption, and drive deeper penetration, both on the consumer side and seller's side, beyond India to Bharat. In this session, a panel of leading industry members and startups will discuss these dimensions of e-commerce in India.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Understanding the e-commerce ecosystem in India, and its evolution in the Indian marketplace
• Understanding the barriers to entry and adoption in the platform-centric model of eCommerce
• Challenges faced by startups and small traders while unlocking their full potential and growth
• The role and importance of startups in the digital commerce landscape of India
• Emerging Trends in the digital commerce landscape and startup ecosystem, and the road ahead

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Understanding how existing market players can support and augment the growth of startups
• Understanding how existing market players or companies maneuver through their value chains in order to gain maximum benefits
• Rethinking existing customer acquisition, seller acquisition, and operationalization strategies in the Indian digital commerce ecosystem
• Understanding the prospects, innovative solutions, and the untapped potential of unbundling value chains

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Jitendra Vijay, CEO, MEITY Startup Hub
• Dr. Anita Gupta, Adviser/Scientist G, DST
• Dr. Manish Dewan, DGM & HoD SPED, BIRAC
• Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission
• Smt. Diksha Nigam, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Incubators help entrepreneurs solve some of the problems commonly associated with running a startup by providing workspace, seed funding, mentoring, and training. The concept of business Incubators is not new to India anymore, however, given the country's diversity, the models will need to evolve. The next generation of innovation will emerge from Tier II and Tier III cities, emphasising the importance of incubators in the survival and success of startups. If India is to advance as a global startup hub, incubators must be at the forefront of these efforts. While it is reassuring to know that India’s startup ecosystem ranks 3rd in the world, it is worth noting that there is a significant gap between India and the top two in terms of the number of incubators in India.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• The growth trajectory of the Indian incubator landscape
• How innovators benefit through incubators
• Incubator’s role in promoting startup culture in Tier II and Tier III cities
• The ability of incubators to impact long-term economic growth
• Reverse Pitching by key Incubators

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• What are the most difficult challenges for Indian incubators
• Policy measures that might be necessary to improve the capability of India's incubators
• Ways to increase the vibrancy of the startup ecosystem in Tier II and Tier III cities

Panelists for the Discussion:

• Dr. Renu Swarup,, Former Secretary to the Government of India - Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology
• Shri Abhishek Singh, CEO, MyGov
• Smt. Rema Subramanian, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Ankur Capital
• Smt. Gazal Kalra, Co-Founder, Rivigo
• Smt. Padmaja Ruparel, Co-Founder, Indian Angel Network
• Dr. Apoorva Sharma, Co-founder, Venture Catalysts and Co-Founder and Managing Director, 9Unicorns (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Women's economic empowerment is one of the world's most promising investment opportunities, with the largest emerging markets, talent pools, and demographic dividends to be tapped. Unfortunately, women entrepreneurs continue to face a greater challenge than their male counterparts. Despite the fact that women-led businesses benefit communities and the world, they are less likely to survive, despite evidence that their startups are frequently highly successful.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• A global perspective on women entrepreneurship
• Structural barriers to women entrepreneurship

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• The role that government and civil society can play in strengthening women's entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Ways in which we can build a strong infrastructure to support women's entrepreneurship
• Steps to promote women entrepreneurship in rural India

Startups have been recognised as immense powerhouses of innovation, technology, and ideas. There are numerous factors to consider when starting a business, ranging from branding and market targeting to financial growth. However, one of the most important aspects of market challenges is intellectual property (IP) protection. IP is an intangible asset for a startup. It leveled the playing field for entrepreneurs and incumbents and increased the likelihood of lucrative opportunities. In today's competitive and dynamic world, IP can be a product or service's unique selling proposition (USP). It contributes to the creation of a sustainable and defensible differentiator for the startup. Furthermore, erecting a high entry barrier, it allows startups to grow faster than their competitors. Since it adds value to the venture, IP is given a high priority, making IP protection essential for startups.

The workshop will deliberate on the following:

• A hands-on experience on how startups can protect their innovation
• Key benefits and challenges while filling IPs

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Key aspects to be considered while applying for IPR
• Different ways to address challenges faced by startups during filling IPs

Speaker for the Workshop:
• Shri Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Surge & Sequoia Capital India LLP
• Smt. Diksha Nigam, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
India's startup ecosystem is in its best phase yet, and the economic environment is favourable to aspiring minds. However, careful planning and a forward-thinking approach are required to ensure that startups do not end up closing their doors within the first year of operation. Funding and fundraising are both important modern business scenarios that aid in the growth of a startup. In addition to this, funding is required to take full advantage of current and upcoming market opportunities. Even if you start with your own money, you'll need outside help to stay afloat in the long run.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Sharing of best practices by subject matter experts
• Hands-on experience in understanding how to work with startups

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• What are the various types of funding avenues for aspiring young entrepreneurs
• Ways in which startups can avail the existing funding opportunities both from the Government and private firms

Speakers for the Workshop:
• Shri Sanjeev Kaushik, Senior Vice President, Retail Branch Banking, HDFC
• Shri Gaurav Goel, National Head, Startup and New Economy Business, YES Bank
• Shri Arun Kumar, Head, Digital Business, Bank of Baroda
• Shri Prakash Jaiswal, Head of Business Banking, Commercial Banking, India, HSBC
• Shri Gautam Anand, Startup India (Moderator)


Session Brief:
Securing startup funding is one of the most difficult challenges an entrepreneur faces when starting a new business. With so many funding options available, the entrepreneur must understand the pros and cons of each funding methodology, estimate the value of funds required, the application of funds, the projected financial position of the business including the returns generated, and develop a strategy – to approach and secure the required funds. Many entrepreneurs are unaware that banks can also provide funding for startups, despite the fact that banks are one of India's largest funders of startups, providing funding to thousands of startups each year.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Experts from banks will give a walkthrough on different types of funding available for startups
• Address the key challenges faced by startups in order to avail the bank’s facilities

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• How to avail different facilities/funding opportunities provided by banks to startups
• Provision of single-window clearance for startups

Speakers for the Workshop:
• Shri. Prashant Kumar Singh, CEO, Government eMarketplace (GeM)
• Shri Anurag Awasthi, Product Manager, Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Inclusive Products, Government eMarketplace
• Shri Nishant Malhotra, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Startups are highly dynamic, work with limited resources, and have little experience working with the government on public procurement. Government Departments are India's largest buyers! To bridge the gap between departments and startups, Startup India has established procurement channels and incentives. In addition, the government has launched an interactive project, the GeM Startup Runway, to onboard budding startups and reach out to government buyers, promoting entrepreneurship through innovation and providing a level playing field to startups versus experienced companies in public procurement. This session shall focus on promoting market access opportunities for startups.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Various public procurement opportunities for startups
• Government’s schemes and support for startups to use GeM platform

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Ways to address the challenges faced by startups while using the GeM platform
• How to use the GeM platform and list products and services for startups

Speaker for the Workshop:
• Shri Srinivas Ramanujam, CEO, Villgro
• Mohammad Azhar, Sector Lead, Government Initiative, Villgro
• Shri Saravjeet Singh, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
The purpose of an incubator is to empower youth in order to help them become successful entrepreneurs, by addressing market opportunities at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’, assisting potential entrepreneurs in identifying business ideas/opportunities, and developing business plans to the point where they can be evaluated as profitable businesses. Over the last 20 years, Villgro has incubated over 323 social enterprises and has impacted over 20 million people's lives. In addition, their incubation program has assisted social entrepreneurs in validating their ideas, gaining unique market insights, and developing long-term market channels. An expert from Villgro will explain their market-based models for developing incubator ecosystems in the country.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Various models to build the ecosystem while incubating the incubators
• Key benefits and challenges

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• How to build an Incubators ecosystem in the country
• Different ways to address challenges while incubating the incubators

Speakers for the Session:
• Shri. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary - Industry & Commerce and IT, Government of Telangana
• Smt. Manisha Verma, Principal Secretary - Skill Development, Employment & Entrepreneurship, Government of Maharashtra
• Shri Kekhrievor Kevichusa, Commissioner & Secretary of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland
• Dr Ujjwal Kumar, Special Secretary – IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh & MD, UP Electronics Corporation Ltd
• Smt. Meena Nagaraj. C.N, Director - Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka & Managing Director, KITS, Karnataka
• Smt. Kritika Singh, Startup India (Moderator)
• Dr Surabhi Gupta, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India that aims to create a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country. The initiative has been instrumental in creating a cohesive force and has tapped the regional ecosystem as well. There are 30 States & Union Territories today with their own Startup Policy, promoting and supporting startups in their respective regions, of which 26 States and UTs launched their policies after the launch of Startup India in 2016. State Government’s policies play a critical role in the expansion of the startup ecosystem from the main hubs or metros to other parts of the country.

Some of these States and UTs have been at the forefront of bringing in startup-centric policies and initiatives to drive and implement innovation. Their best practices will serve as a model for other States and UTs interested in learning more about the startup ecosystem. A senior representative from five such States will share their journey of fostering startups and innovation in their region.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• USP of the presenting States’ respective Startup Policies
• Their plan to further develop a robust startup ecosystem in their respective States or UTs

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• How the same model can be replicated in other States & UTs
• Key policy reforms required to help startups and entrepreneurs

Speakers for the Session:
• Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT
• Shri Anil Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Government of India
• Shri Nandan Nilekani, Founder and Non-Executive Chairman, Infosys
• Shri Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, Quality Council of India and Capacity Building Commission
• Shri T. Koshy, Chief Advisor, ONDC
• Smt. Anjali Bansal, Member - Advisory Council/ ONDC

Session Brief:
ONDC is a network that enables buyers and sellers of any product or service to discover and conduct location-aware eCommerce irrespective of what medium, app, or platform they use to be digitally visible. All existing e-Commerce apps and platforms can voluntarily choose to adopt and be a part of the ONDC network and become seamlessly interoperable.

The ONDC network will democratize the digital commerce landscape by providing equal opportunity for participation to small and large market players alike. ONDC envisages to support businesses to become digitally visible/available, and provide access to more buyers, improve online discoverability, reduce the cost of doing business, and unbundle the value chains of digital commerce, thus shifting the power from the intermediaries to the end, that is, to the consumers, merchants, and providers of support services. This will be most impactful for small businesses looking to unlock innovation and scale their operations through digital commerce.

This session will deep-dive into the objectives, approach, philosophy, and scope of ONDC and present the founding blocks of the first-of-its-kind, national network.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Objectives, approach, philosophy, and scope of ONDC, and the founding blocks of the first-of-its-kind, national network

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Launch of ONDC National Rollout Strategy

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Rajesh Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship
• Dr. Praveen Gedem, Addl. CEO, NHA
• Shri Sanjay Jain, Chief Innovation Officer, Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship, IIM Ahmedabad
• Shri Pramod Verma, CTO (EkStep) and Chief Architect (UID/India Stack)
• Smt. Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM
• Shri Suresh Sethi, CEO, Protean eGov Technologies Ltd. (Moderator)

Session Brief:
The Internet has inherently changed how goods and services are discovered and delivered. But these benefits of the Digital Age are often curtailed by the limitations of the platform-based approach. There is a need to assess the impact of network thinking applied to digital delivery of goods and services across sectors, from healthcare to skills, commerce to administration, and how India is leading the way in the era of digital evolution.

Join a panel of eminent experts to discuss the emerging changes and the need to shift our focus towards building a public digital infrastructure that is inclusive and scalable, stimulating active participation from Samaj, Sarkar, and Bazaar.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Role of internet and digital systems in product and service delivery
• Evolution of platforms in the digital system landscape
• The limitations associated with platforms under the digital system landscape
• The application and benefits associated with open-source networks across varied sectors such as health, skills, commerce, finance, etc.
• The role and opportunities for startups in the new network ecosystem

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Reimagining digital systems with the help of open protocols, by bringing better administration, transparency, and connectivity
• Understanding how open-source protocols can address the inherent limitations associated with the platform model

Speaker for the Session:
Shri Shivendra Tomar, GM, IFCI Ltd. & Managing Director, IFCI Venture

Session Brief:
India is growing rapidly, and with this fast-paced growth, hopes, aspirations, and expectations are rising. A vast number of potential entrepreneurs, particularly from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Backward Classes (BC), are also aspiring now to start their businesses. Such entrepreneurs may be found across the country, bursting with ideas for what they might accomplish for themselves and their families. Aspiring SC and BC entrepreneurs are motivated and active, yet they may be confronted by specific obstacles on their journey of turning their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. While the Startup India initiative focuses on promoting entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has taken some key steps on promoting SC and BC Entrepreneurs, which they shall explain in detail in the session.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Brief overview about IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited
• Features, Eligibility Criteria, and Investment Contours of VCF schemes

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Various types of schemes available for SC and BC entrepreneurs
• Ways in which startups can avail these schemes

Speakers for the Session:
• Shri Phalgun Kompalli, Co-Founder, UpGrad
• Shri Rahul Garg, Founder & CEO, Moglix
• Shri Yashish Dahiya, Chairman & CEO, Policybazaar Group
• Shri Manoj Kohli, Country Head, Softbank India, Softbank Group International (Moderator)

Session Brief:
One of the primary goals of any entrepreneur is to eventually scale up and expand their startup. With the majority of startups failing within the first year and nearly half-closing their doors by the fifth year, startup expansion is critical for long-term success. While local expansion may be simple, global expansion is akin to venturing into uncharted territory, requiring the right amount of muscle to pull through. Going global entails a slew of responsibilities and is an expensive endeavour. It is also critical to determine whether there is any thrive in the well-connected global market. As a result, a good strategy explains whether there is a suitable business opportunity and a favourable business environment to thrive. A well-versed expert associated with one of the most important components in the startup space will share and accelerate knowledge among young and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Various scenarios and expansion strategies for the innovatively connected world
• Some pointers to focus on when planning or crafting the expansion strategy

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• How to leverage most of the available resources to help their startups grow
• Most important elements or parameters to consider in such scenarios

Panelists for the Session:
• Shri Avnish Sabharwal, MD, Accenture Ventures
• Smt. Sruthi Kannan, Head, CISCO Launchpad
• Shri Deepak Padaki, EVP, Group Head – Strategy, M&A & Chief Risk Officer, Infosys
• Shri Venkatesh Vijayaraghavan, Group CEO & Director, CavinKare
• Shri Ashank Desai, Founder, Mastek Ltd (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Working with Startups is no longer an option but a strategic imperative for Indian corporates to thrive in a highly innovative and disruptive business environment. Almost all industries have been challenged by startups. The challenge for many corporates is that innovation relies on having different points of view, driven by shared values. Large corporations and startups are decidedly different organisations, each side has what the other one lacks. The corporates have resources, scale, power, and the routines needed to run a proven business model efficiently. A startup has none of those, but typically has promising ideas, organisational agility, the willingness to take risks, and aspirations of rapid growth. The combination of entrepreneurial activity with corporate ability will have tangible benefits for both.

In the session, 75 problem statements were provided by corporates. The announcement of these problem statements by the corporates will be done during this session. The shortlisted startups will pitch to these corporates followed by which winners will be announced in the following months.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Corporate and startup collaboration success stories
• 75 problems statements will be launched for startups to work on

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Sharing of Corporate and startup collaboration best practices
• Networking opportunities between startups and corporates
• Startups will get a chance to win pilot projects, incubation support, mentorship, and co-development opportunities

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Harshit Rathore, Co-Founder & CTO, Naccarc Robotics
• Shri Vikash Mittersain, Founder & Managing Director, Nazara Technologies
• Shri Shrikant Badve, Managing Director, Badve Industries
• Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Scientific developments and innovations are happenings in a very rapid space. However, it is often observed that in this race for technology development, sustainability and human values take a back seat. Considering our long-term goal, human values and sustainability are very critical and should be an integral part of innovation. This panel will deliberate upon this aspect and will discuss different case studies and their own experiences in ensuring that human values and sustainability are integral to innovation.

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Rajendra Ratnoo, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade & CGPDTM
• Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur
• Prof. AB Pandit, Vice Chancellor, ICT Mumbai
• Shri Rahul Nayar, Vice-President, Invest India
• Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Ex-Chairman, ISRO (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Indian higher educational institution system is in transition and now gives huge emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Policy interventions at different levels by the government are playing a key role in creating and sustaining the innovation and startup movement in educational institutions. The panel will discuss best practices and models adopted by different public and private educational institutions to build innovations and an entrepreneurial ecosystem within the campuses.

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Yashraj Bhardwaj, Young Innovator
• Shri Harsh Neekhra, CEO and Founder Novorbis Itus Pvt. Ltd.
• Smt. Shefali Vinod Ramteke, Founder & COO, PS-1925
• Smt. Neelam Bhayre, Founder, WeWake Indigreen Pvt. Ltd.
• Shri. Uday Wankawala, CEO, AIC - Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (Moderator)

Session Brief:
A common question that strikes many of us is ‘Does age matter for entrepreneurial success?’. Though there is no straightforward answer it’s evident that age in itself does not matter in trying to forecast the entrepreneurial success of an individual. There are other various factors such as experience, skill, knowledge, and practice which play a role. This panel is going to discuss in detail the age and combination of other factors in shaping a smart entrepreneur. The panelists are student innovators & entrepreneurs who are in the early stage of the venture will share their perspectives on innovation and entrepreneurship career journey.

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Dr. Anand Despande, Founder & Managing Director, Persistent Systems
• Smt. Sridevi Pankajam, MD, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
• Shri C V Raman, Chief Technology Officer, Maruti Suzuki India Limited
• Shri B V R Mohan Reddy, Executive Chairman, Cyient (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Investors are key stakeholders in a competitive market responsible for the sensible and sustainable growth of startups. It not only shapes the innovation but also the business growth trajectory of ventures. In the Indian context, the vibrancy of the investors' community and conducive environment for investment is just picking up in recent years. Especially there is a substantial increase in the outflow of innovations and start-ups from higher educational institutions. Ventures are built by students and faculty members who take risks in creating and commercialising innovative technologies in ways that larger businesses are unable to do. Sometimes these technologies open completely new markets, transforming industries. Therefore, there is a quest for new models and approaches for investment too. The panel comprises eminent industrialists, business tycoons, and investors who will discuss current and future trends of the investment market, and opportunities and also highlight emerging approaches to address the current market need.

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Mr. Tanmay Kumar Sethi, Class 9, DPS, Rourkela, Odisha
• Ms. Ayushi Singh, Class 11, Conossa Convent Girls Inter College, Faizabad, UP
• Ms. Pooja Arora, Toycathon team – Macaw, JNU, New Delhi
• Ms. Vedika Vignesh, Toycathon team – Kreedavyuh, DPS, Hyderabad, Telangana
• Shri Anil Pradhan, Founder, IPSFRI (Moderator)

Session Brief:
School education immensely contributes to shaping the mindset of an individual. Introduction to the concepts of ideation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in schools itself will certainly prepare young minds to convert challenges into opportunities. It will also make them aspirational and increase their risk appetite. We need to inculcate amongst students that they should chase good ideas and be as creative as possible. To understand the context in-depth, the panel is consisting of school and college student innovators to share their life philosophy and approach to innovations they have developed and what more can be done to accelerate the process.

• Shri Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Surge & Sequoia Capital India LLP
• Shri Vineet Rai, Founder & Chairman, Aavishkaar Group
• Shri Amit Jhunjhunwala, Chief Financial Officer, Accel
• Shri Siddarth Mohan Pai, Founding Partner, 3one4 Capital
• Shri Karthik Reddy, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Blume Ventures
• Shri Niren Shah, Managing Director & Head, NVP India
• Smt. Priya Rajan, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Bank
• Shri Kiran Mysore, Principal, UTEC, Japan
• Shri Mohanjit Jolly, Partner, Iron Pillar, USA
• Smt. Sophia Nadur, Managing Partner, BP Ventures, UK
• Shri Sujit Kunte, Principal & Head of India, Spiral Ventures Pte., Singapore
• Smt. Anjali Bansal, Founder, Avaana Capital
• Smt. Padmaja Ruprael, Co-founder & President, Indian Angel Network
• Shri Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director, TVS Capital Funds Pvt Ltd
• Shri Vikram Gupta, Founding & Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures (Moderator)


The Government of India has introduced several key policies and business reforms for improving the investment climate for investors to ensure that they continue to choose India as a preferred destination for investments. Several measures have also been taken to mobilise domestic capital for Indian Startups and enable ease of doing business in India. In this regard, recommendations have been received from various stakeholders for incentivising global and domestic capital for investments into startups, ease of doing business of startups, and making it easier for startups to grow, operate, and exit. Based on these recommendations, a list of issues pertaining to key government ministries/departments/organisations has been prepared for deliberation in form of a roundtable. The roundtable shall be attended by all the major Indian regulators, policymakers, ministry leads and Global VC Funds, and India Domiciled Global Fund Managers.

The Roundtable will deliberate on the following:

• Mobilising capital for Indian Startups and promoting ease of doing business for venture funds
• Various issues related to global and domestic funds, as well as startups related issues

The key outcomes of the session will be:

• Bringing together various regulatory organistions to deliberate on domestic and startup related issues
• A structured discussion on mobilising capital for Indian startups and identifying the ways in which Private Investors can invest more in India

Incubators for the Reverse Pitching:
• IIIT Delhi Technology Business Incubator
• Forge Accelerator
• AIC BIMTECH
• Indigram Labs

Session Brief:
Incubators play a vital role in the growth of startups. They provide the necessary resources such as infrastructure, mentorship, and financial support to nurture and support innovations of startups. Incubators can help refine the plan, build the team, provide resources, and invest in the company. However, it is crucial that the role and functioning of Indian Incubators reached out to the startup community in order to attract the right set of ideas for propulsion. Keeping with this, 4 established incubating entities will reverse pitch to the budding and interested startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators!

Key highlights of the session will be:

• The facilities offered by the Incubator
• Success stories under the Incubator
• Verticals of support to the startups and entrepreneurs
• Support in terms of funding opportunities and market support with examples

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Insights into the various branches and verticals of an Incubator’s operation
• Key support areas under that incubates can leverage
• Understanding of correct period to get incubated

Speakers for the Session:
• Shri Shailesh Agarwal, VP – Strategy & Business Development, IBM India and South Asia
• Shri Sanjay Mehta, Founder and Partner, 100x.vc (Moderator)

Session Brief:
The number of new startups is rapidly increasing, and some begin in small cities or towns before expanding to the global market. Geographical barriers are no longer an impediment to growing businesses in the digital age. The internet connects the world and opens up enormous opportunities in the startup industry. Many startups with the initial capital to grow, on the other hand, may fail because they did not plan their strategy before going global with international expansion. The planning stage should begin with questions about your company. Inquire about its ability to enter international markets. Even if a startup is newer or smaller, it may have significant global expansion potential. Startups considering entering a new market must be aware of the market's specific requirements, which range from tax laws to employment contracts to local business customs. Otherwise, estimating the true cost of establishing and operating a new entity will be impossible.

This fireside chat will highlight strategies and methods to enter the global market and adopt growth tactics within the ecosystem for successful business expansion. Targeting the right market segment and expanding the customer base are key essentials for any enterprise to continue on its growth trajectory. The session will focus on the ingredients of a robust go-to-market strategy with an emphasis on internationalisation for startups.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Importance to go global for startups
• Obstacles that startups face
• Tips for expanding your startup globally

Key outcomes of the discussion will be:

• Why should startups expand internationally?
• When is the right time to start?
• How to address challenges when expanding internationally?

Panelists for the Discussion:
• Shri Raj Cherubal, CEO, Chennai Smart City Limited
• Smt. Charu Chadha, Principal, Governance and Citizen Engagement, Omidyar Network India
• Smt. Madhushree Narayan, Programme Director, Waste Management & Circular Economy, Social Alpha
• Shri Amarsh Chaturvedi, Co-Founder & Director, Transerve
• Smt. Antaraa Vasudev, Founder, Civis
• Shri Mudit Narayan, Technology Officer, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (Moderator)

Session Brief:
The need to design and deploy innovative solutions to pressing urban challenges in a swift, cost-effective, and scalable manner is a founding tenet of the Smart Cities Mission. To deliver ‘more from less’ requires discovering and developing innovative solutions from the ‘adjacent possible’. With the aid of an open innovation framework, the Smart Cities Mission is enabling the discovery of innovative solutions that can address localised challenges, combining the know-how of experts, thought leaders, and urban stakeholders, and creating governance mechanisms to empower sustained adoption of such practices.

The august panel will bring to the audience insights on Innovating for Urban India – the drivers and challenges associated with working with startups and how the launch of the City Innovation eXchange (CIX) and SmartProcure Guidelines will help in institutionalising innovation uptake in Urban India. The panel with representatives from National Innovation Agencies, Smart Cities, Investor and Incubator community, and Startups will provide a well-rounded discussion on the subject. The panel discussion will increase the politico-social salience in effectively establishing the Triple Cycle of Policy-Market-Innovation and solving Urban Indian challenges.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Panelists will include all ecosystem stakeholders including startups, incubators/accelerators, investors, and representatives from Smart Cities and National Innovation Agencies
• Insights will be provided on City Innovation eXchange (CIX) platform and SmartProcure Guidelines

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Ways to design and deploy innovative solutions to pressing urban challenges
• How is the Smart Cities Mission enabling the discovery of innovative solutions that can address localised challenges

Speakers for the Session:
• Prof. K. VijayRaghavan , Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India
• Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog
• Mr. Prashant Tandon, Co-Founder & CEO, 1mg (Moderator)

Session Brief:
India today is the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world. The Indian startup ecosystem has evolved dynamically over the last two decades. In a society based on knowledge, technology innovation is being appraised as the most crucial factor for national competitiveness and corporate competitiveness. As a result, governments of various countries around the world are becoming increasingly involved in technology innovation with a keen interest and active involvement in technology commercialization.

Some startups were founded in the 2000s, but the ecosystem was still immature as only a few investors were active and the number of support organizations such as incubators and accelerators was limited. Institutional support has laid the foundation for growth for Indian startups today. The fireside chat is aimed at discussing the different institutional mechanisms of our nation that can help enable the growth of the startup ecosystem.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Importance of Technology Commercialization
• Institutional support enabling growth in the Indian startup ecosystem

The key outcomes of the discussion will be:

• How and when should startups think about technology commercialization?
• Awareness and access to institutional support for Indian startups

Dignitaries who’d address the Inaugural Ceremony
• Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Education
• Smt. Anita Karwal, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy
• Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
• Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Department of Higher Education
• Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE
• Dr. Abhay Jere, Chief Innovation Officer,Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education,Government of India
• Shri Dipan Kumar Sahu, Asst. Innovation Director, MoE’s Innovation Cell (Moderator)
• Dr. Elangovan Kariappan, Asst. Innovation Director, MoE’s Innovation Cell (Moderator)

• Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Hon’ble Minister of Statefor Education
• Prof. Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE
• Prof. M. P. Poonia, Vice Chairman, AICTE
• Dr. Abhay Jere, CIO, MIC
• Shri Dipan Kumar Sahu, Asst. Innovation Director, MoE’s Innovation Cell (Moderator)
• Dr. Elangovan Kariappan, Asst. Innovation Director, MoE’s Innovation Cell (Moderator)

• Shri Parshottam Rupala, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
• Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of States for Fisheries
• Shri Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries
• Dr. Jujjavarapu Balaji, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries
• Shri. Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries

Session Brief:
Inviting startups in the fisheries and aquaculture sector to submit solutions for four problem statements .

Speaker:
• Shri Deep Kalra, Founder, MakeMy Trip
• Shri Abhishek Garg, Head - Growth & Strategic Partnerships, TheCapitalNet (Moderator)

Session Brief:
Opening up a market for a startup can be extremely challenging due to the numerous market access restrictions that must be overcome. Market access barriers are elements that prevent, impede, or slow down the goal of achieving a successful and lucrative market access. When developing a market access strategy, entrepreneurs must examine how to overcome the market access hurdles that they will face in order to achieve their objectives. There are a variety of options available for startups, depending on their focus. Which one makes the most sense depends on whether they are targeting specific consumers (buyers), competitors, or sales partners, as well as when they want to enter the market.

To increase scaling opportunities for startups, building capacity in entrepreneurs through knowledge sharing is of utmost essence. Hence, two renowned unicorn founders from the Indian startup ecosystem will share their experience and knowledge of running an innovative business.

Key highlights of the session will be:
• Nuances of market access
• Critical points while drafting market access strategies

The session will answer the following questions:
• Why market access strategy is important?
• What are the steps to develop a market access strategy?

Dignitaries who’d address the NSA 2021 Felicitation Ceremony:
• Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Minister of Commerce & Industry
• Shri Som Parkash, Hon'ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry
• Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
• Smt Shruti Singh, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
• Ms Padmaja Ruparel, Co-Founder, IAN & Founding Partner, IAN Fund
• Mr Sanjay Nekkanti, Co-Founder & CEO, Dhruva Space
• Smt. Aastha Grover, Startup India (Moderator)

Session Brief:
DPIIT successfully conceived the National Startup Awards 2021 in December 2020. The awards will recognize and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers that are building scalable enterprises, with high potential of employment generation, wealth creation, and social impact. The results of the National Startup Awards 2021 will be declared in the presence of Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Som Parkash, Hon'ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, and Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Key highlights of the session will be:

• Handholding support provided to NSA 2020 Winners
• Launch of Blockchain-enabled verification for DPIIT Tax Exemption Certificates and DigiLocker for DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificates
• Announcement of second edition of Doordarshan Startup Champions TV show
• E-Release of the ‘National Startup Awards 2021 Report’
• Introduction and Announcement of NSA 2021 handholding support and Partners

Key outcomes of the session will be:

• Declaration of NSA 2021 Winners

Dignitaries who’d address the session
• Dr. Alka Sharma, MD, BIRAC, Senior Advisor, Department of Biotechnology
• Dr. Manish Diwan, Head Strategic Partnership and Entrepreneurship Development, BIRAC
• Dr. Shirshendu Mukherjee, Mission Director, Grand Challenges India
• Mr. Sanjeev Malhotra, NASSCOM
• Ms. Deepanwita, Chairperson and CEO, IKP Knowledge Park
• Dr. Sonia Gandhi, Chief Manager, BIRAC