From AI To EVs: Day 2 Of Startup Mahakumbh Showcases Bharat's Tech Ambitions

The second day of Startup Mahakumbh today witnessed the same energy and enthusiasm as the previous day, as the country’s key policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors from the startup ecosystem, and international guests came together at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam.

The event, themed “Startup India @2047 – Unfolding the Bharat Story”, hosted thousands of visitors, including students and budding entrepreneurs, from India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

The second day saw insightful panel discussions, fireside chats and keynote addresses on diverse topics like space and defence technology, India’s manufacturing prowess, building B2B brands, manufacturing, fintech, climate change, mobility, scaling startups, and many more.

Specially curated startup booths/pods within thematic pavilions offer startups a platform to showcase their innovations to key stakeholders, including angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate and ecosystem-driven incubators, accelerators, government agencies, and international investors.

Startup Mahakumbh features over 3,000 startups, 1,000+ investors and incubators, and 10,000+ delegates from 50+ countries, making it a prime opportunity for startups to pitch their businesses, build investor relationships, and secure crucial funding.

The day kicked off with a keynote speech by India’s G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, who said that the Centre and state governments should lead the adoption of innovative solutions from startups.

“When startups create disruptive technologies, the government should step in as their initial customer,” he said, highlighting the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) as the best example of this approach.

Kant also said that deeptech innovations, in sectors like artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and data analytics, require investors willing to commit funds for extended development cycles.

“The deeptech sector specifically needs capital that can remain invested for longer periods,” he noted, while cautioning that disruptions in global supply chains and tariffs imposed by the US would likely constrain venture capital availability globally.

Notable figures like L&T executive vice-president Arun T Ramchandani, Navi Group executive chairman Sachin Bansal, Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Finland’s ambassador to India Kimmo Lähdevirta, among others, were among the attendees on the second day.

The second day also saw the launch of the India Fintech Foundation in the presence of Kant, DPIIT joint secretary Shri Sanjiv and former deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India NS Vishwanathan. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering a sustainable, innovative, and self-regulated fintech ecosystem in India.

Following the inauguration of the Startup Mahakumbh on Thursday (April 3), union minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal returned to Bharat Mandapam for a walk through of the mega exhibition on Day 2 of the event.

Patient Capital The Talking Point Of The Day

Across various sessions, industry and sectoral experts dived deep into thematic discussions and shared their valuable insights.

Speciale Invest partner Arjun Rao, who was a part of a panel discussion on the topic “Space and Defence – The Next Global Giants from India”, said, “The space and defence sectors represent tremendous opportunities for India to develop global champions, but we must acknowledge the unique challenges startups face in these domains.”

Rao called for coordinated efforts from the government, VC firms and ecosystem enablers to create a support framework tailored to these realities. “In capital-intensive sectors like these, efficiency becomes paramount—we must ensure every single dollar invested delivers maximum impact… Only then can India truly unleash its potential to create global giants in space and defence.”

Talking about the startup-driven economic transformation, MeitY additional secretary Abhishek Singh said that India is taking big strides in deeptech innovations.

“India stands at a pivotal moment in the global AI landscape. While we currently trail the US and China, our momentum in deeptech innovation is undeniable. To truly compete, we must prioritise three strategic imperatives: developing our own foundation models, systematically building world-class AI talent, and significantly increasing our research investments,” Singh said.

He hailed India’s emergence in the AI space but also underlined the requirement of patient capital to become a leader. “This is not a sprint but a marathon that could fundamentally reshape our digital economy,” added Singh.

Meanwhile, Climate Collective director and senior partner Juhi Joshi called for immediate steps to address climate change challenges. “The climate crisis isn’t a distant threat—it’s our present reality demanding immediate, coordinated action,” she said.

Joshi highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach and more investments in climate research and infrastructure. “We must recognise that breakthrough climate technologies require patient capital—investors willing to support the extended development cycles inherent in deeptech solutions. The talent and innovation capacity exists in India, what we need now is the enabling framework that allows these climate solutions to flourish and scale globally,” Joshi added.

CarDekho cofounder and CEO Amit Jain, who was part of a panel discussion on “Mobility @2047 – The Road Ahead”, underlined a three-pronged approach for decongestion – accelerating public transportation development, expanding shared mobility options, and building robust EV infrastructure in metros before extending to tier II & III cities, along with developing alternative fuels like green hydrogen.

“The future of mobility lies in creating seamless, integrated journeys across multiple transport modes,” he said.

Role Of New-Age Tech Startups In Building Viksit Bharat

During a fireside chat on “Building and Scaling Brands Beyond 100 Cr in D2C”, boAt cofounder and CMO Aman Gupta advised D2C entrepreneurs to focus on three critical elements while starting a D2C brand – product-market fit, deeply understanding customers, and strategically investing in performance marketing.

He advised entrepreneurs to start small and be frugal, noting that unique ideas aren’t necessary for success—superior execution is what truly matters. Gupta said that India is currently at a juncture where founders are being celebrated as brands themselves, which has created a culture which champions entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, ixigo cofounder and group CEO Aloke Bajpai during a quick chat with the Inc42 team at the D2C pavilion said that India’s consumer landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation. “Today’s Indian consumer, particularly Gen Z, is aspirational, has greater purchasing power, and demands fundamentally different experiences than previous generations.”

Bajpai predicted that new-age tech startups will play an important role in achieving the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Looking Ahead To Action-Packed Day Three

The third day and the final day of Startup Mahakumbh on April 5 will also be full of impactful sessions, featuring key addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities. The final day will begin with a session on India’s rising quick commerce sector featuring Info Edge founder and executive vice chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani and Blinkit cofounder and CEO Albinder Dhindsa.

MeitY Startup Hub CEO Panneerselvam Madangopal, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) CEO Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, WinZO Games cofounder Paavan Nanda, LetsVenture founder and CEO Shanti Mohan, SIDBI general manager Satya Prakash Singh, IvyCap founder and managing partner Vikram Gupta, and other notable names will share their views on India’s rising startup sector.

The last day of the event shall focus on the announcement of winners of The Startup Maharathi Challenge, a flagship initiative under Startup Mahakumbh 2025, aimed at discovering, showcasing, and supporting India’s most promising early and growth-stage startups and the Futurepreneurs Programme, an initiative that focuses on nurturing student innovators from top colleges across India.

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