The three-day Startup Mahakumbh kicked off on Monday. This event aims to connect startups, incubators & accelerators, industry leaders and investors including VCs, angel investors, family offices, and HNIs and corporate partners. The focus is sector specific – with pavilions including for AI & SaaS, Agritech, B2B & Manufacturing, Biotech & Pharma, Deep Tech, Climate Tech, Fintech, Gaming & Esports, etc. Sounds encouraging.

This startup event is a collaborative effort of some reputed names in the industry, including a ASSOCHAM, Nasscom, Bootstrap Incubation & Advisory Foundation, TiE and Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association, and being organised in the backdrop of troubles being witnessed by some poster boys of the Indian startup ecosystem, it is eagerly expected that the event will inject fresh enthusiasm to the sector.

Meanwhile, speaking at the event, a top Commerce Ministry official revealed that a Deep Tech startup policy is already in the final stages of inter-ministerial discussions and the Centre is likely to creating a dedicated fund of funds for this. Notably, fields like Agritech and Climate Tech have no less potential than other segments of the startup space and investors should open up more to these sectors as well.

Events like Startup Mahakumbh, if well curated, could be a big boost to the Indian startup ecosystem. Not merely innovation will be encouraged but entrepreneurs will also get opportunities to connect easily to those who can fund them. This event should become annual and the government should continue to extend coordinated efforts to all stakeholders so as to make this first-of-its-kind event a real success in propelling our new age businesses.

I invite your opinions.