CM Bhupendra Patel described the conclave as a step toward strengthening Gujarat’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, while Higher Education Minister Rushikesh Patel emphasized universities’ role in mentoring startups.
Gandhinagar
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day Startup Conclave 2025 on Tuesday at Mahatma Mandir, Gujarat, bringing together founders, investors, and policymakers from across India for innovation showcases and policy discussions. Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Higher Education Minister Rushikesh Patel, Shah highlighted the transformation of India’s youth from “job-seekers to job-creators” and urged investors to support early-stage ventures.
Shah noted that startups have generated around 1.79 million jobs, with nearly half of new startups founded by women, demonstrating the sector’s growing economic and social impact. “The Startup Conclave is a platform to turn India’s knowledge and innovation into businesses and employment,” he said, calling on investors to help startups grow while predicting that successful ventures will, in turn, benefit their backers.
Over 170 startups are participating in the conclave, showcasing products and services in technology, healthcare, agritech, fintech, and green energy. The event includes prototype demonstrations, a round-table dialogue with industry experts, and seven themed sessions on scaling innovation, funding models, and university-industry collaboration.
Participants highlighted challenges such as limited early-stage capital and pilot customers. Investors stressed the need for clear pilot procurement pathways and sector-focused incubation, especially in climate and health tech. Organizers aim to generate actionable policy recommendations and launch a platform connecting startups with investors and procurement opportunities.
The conclave’s success will be measured by concrete outcomes: investor commitments, government pilot projects, and policies that help startups move from prototype to scale, enabling young ventures to grow sustainably.
