Jaipur witnessed a landmark moment in India’s startup journey as the “Gen-Next Bharat Startup Summit – Jaipur Edition” was at the campus of Vivekananda Global University (VGU). The summit brought together a powerful ecosystem of innovation, policy, investment, and entrepreneurship, marking a significant step toward strengthening India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 startup landscape.
With participation from over 1,000 attendees, including startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, academicians, and corporate leaders, the summit emerged as one of the most impactful startup gatherings in the region. The event focused on fostering innovation, enabling collaboration, and unlocking opportunities for emerging ventures beyond metropolitan cities.
A Platform Driving India’s Next Startup Wave
The summit commenced with registration, networking, and a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the confluence of India’s cultural ethos with cutting-edge innovation. The event set the tone for a full day of insightful discussions, expert sessions, and high-impact engagements.
Gaurav Sharma, CEO, ACIC-VGU, in his welcome address, highlighted the importance of decentralizing innovation: “Jaipur and Rajasthan are rapidly emerging as key startup destinations. Our mission at ACIC-VGU is to empower young innovators not just with ideas but with the entire ecosystem required to transform those ideas into scalable ventures.”
He emphasized that Tier-2 cities like Jaipur are poised to lead India’s next growth phase in entrepreneurship.
Vision from the Top: MeitY Startup Hub’s Strategic Direction
The keynote address by Shri Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, set the strategic tone of the summit. He presented the vision of “Genesis,” a transformative initiative aimed at empowering startups through technology-driven innovation.
“India is no longer just a participant in the global startup ecosystem—it is becoming a global innovation hub. Our focus now is to empower startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to solve local problems and scale globally.”
In a major announcement, he outlined a roadmap involving ₹100 crore in committed support and funding initiatives aimed specifically at strengthening startups in Tier-2 ecosystems. This move is expected to significantly boost innovation in regions like Rajasthan.
VGU CEO Highlights Role of Education in Entrepreneurship
Onkar Bagaria, CEO, Vivekananda Global University, emphasized the evolving role of educational institutions in shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems:
“Education today must go beyond degrees. We need to create job creators, not job seekers. At VGU, we are building a robust innovation ecosystem where students can ideate, incubate, and scale their startups with institutional support.”
He further highlighted VGU’s initiatives in incubation, industry collaboration, and startup mentorship as key drivers of this transformation.
From Startup to Scaleup: Real-World Insights
One of the key sessions, “From Startup to Scaleup,” featured Sudhanshu Gupta, Co-founder of Inno Farms, who shared practical insights into scaling businesses:
● Building sustainable business models
● Managing growth challenges
● Leveraging technology for scalability
The session resonated strongly with early-stage founders looking to expand their ventures.