Tribal startups shine at national event

New Delhi

A total of 45 tribal-led startups showcased their ideas at the recent ‘Startup Mahakumbh’ event, highlighting the rise of tribal entrepreneurship in India. This initiative marks a key step in supporting tribal talent and building a strong, inclusive startup ecosystem, said the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on Sunday.

Two standout startups received national awards from Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram praised their achievements and the broader participation of tribal founders.

One winner, OurGuest Travels, is based in Gangtok and became the first online travel aggregator from the northeast region. It won the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Award for offering homestays, farmstays, and guided experiences across Sikkim, North Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. With over 600 homestays, 50 guides, and 6,000+ travelers served, the platform supports eco-tourism and rural jobs.

Another winner, Ngurie Organic, incubated at IIT Guwahati, received the AgriTech Award for using smart farming tools like precision agriculture, blockchain, and research-driven data to help farmers.

The event also included a high-impact panel on expanding startup potential beyond metro cities, featuring key investors and startup leaders. A design thinking workshop by IIT Delhi helped tribal founders refine their business plans.

Certificates were awarded to 45 tribal founders, 100 EMRS students, and 150 tribal students pursuing higher education. Participants also joined a bootcamp and exposure visits to learn more about the startup world.

This event reflects the growing strength and potential of tribal communities in India’s innovation journey.