Jaipur, Rajasthan: The two-day startup fest, “Innofest India 2.0”, jointly organized by the Poddar Group of Institutions and the Federation of Unicorn Innovative Startups & Industry (FUISI), concluded with immense enthusiasm and groundbreaking funding opportunities. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Anand Poddar, Chairman or Poddar Group of Institutions, Innofest India 2025 was inaugurated on 26th and 27th September 2025 at Rajasthan International Centre, with a focus on nurturing “job creators, not just job seekers.”
The Jaipur Startup Fest attracted over 5,000 attendees, including more than 100 investors and mentors, 50 industry leaders, and representatives from 30 academic institutions. Over 200 Indian tech startups showcased projects in technology, healthcare, agritech, and traditional textiles at the Startup Expo, a premier exhibition of unique and innovative brands.
Startups such as Thrifty AI, OK Driver, and Ananta Svastha secured multi-crore funding from key investors Ms. Shiva Gaur and Ms. Chahat Aggarwal, through the flagship “10-Minutes Millionaire Challenge,” highlighting the event’s role in boosting India’s startup ecosystem.
Inspiring Speakers Elevate the Event
Industry leaders and mentors motivated the youth throughout the Startup Fest. Mr. Himadri Sinha, Co-Founder of Countrywide Learning Solutions, emphasized, “Startups have the potential to redefine India’s economy. Platforms like Innofest India turn young innovators’ dreams into reality.”
Kargil War Veteran Captain Yashika Tyagi inspired attendees with her message of resilience: “Challenges are part of life. Embrace every struggle to shape your dreams.” Social media influencer and Co-Founder of Beast Life, Mr. Gaurav Taneja, added, “Hard work and risk-taking are essential. Success comes to those who persevere.”
A highlight was Shark Tank House, where Shark Tank India Startup founders Ms.Esha Jhawar, Mr. Mitresh Sharma, Mr. Srijan Mehrotra, Mr. Khalid Wani, Mr. Himanshu Rajpurohit, Mr. Vikram Mittal, and Mr. Raksheet Jain shared insights on transforming bootstrapped beginnings into breakthrough ventures, offering valuable lessons in innovation and resilience.
Youth-Led Startups Secure Multi-Crore Funding
The 10 Minutes Millionaire Challenge allowed young entrepreneurs in India to pitch ideas to investors with several startups receiving multi-crore funding. Participants praised Innofest India as a platform for transforming ideas into reality, fostering mentorship, connections, and opportunities for startup funding in India. Additionally, the Startup Champs India segment provided mentorship and investment to student-led startups such as Safe Spark, SIGNO, and Dustin, highlighting India’s young entrepreneurial talent.
Internship Opportunities and Collaborations
The Startup Intern Carnival connected participants with leading companies, including Teleperformance, Aavas Financers Ltd., Rays Power Infra Ltd., Predusk Technology Pvt. Ltd., FlipShope, BikeSetu, Dotstark Technologies, Tech Brainbucks Infosoft Pvt. Ltd., MandelBulb Technologies, and more, offering thousands of internship and employment opportunities.
Insightful Panel Discussions
The second day the Jaipur startup event featured panels on government schemes, technological innovations, and skill development, moderated by Mr. Ajay Kumar Gupta, Dr. P.M. Bhardwaj, and Mr. Sunil Kakkar.
“The Founders’ Rollercoaster – Thrills, Fails, and Turning Points” included Mr. Sarvesh Agarwal, Mr. Anupam Arya, Mr. Ankush Nagpal, Mr. Shashwat Mahajan, Ms. Pinky Maheshwari, Rishabh Raajvanshi, Dr. Sitaram Gupta, and Mr. Chandrakant, who shared pivotal startup experiences.
“MSME Innovation Through Tech Upgradation & Government Schemes” brought together Mr. Shashi Kiran, Mr. P.R. Sharma, Mr. Ashu Gupta, Mr. Pradeep Ojha, and Mr. Rajat Verma to discuss leveraging technology and initiatives for enterprise growth.
“Role of Academia and Incubation Centres in Building the Startup Ecosystem” featured Dr. Shuchi Mathur, Prof. Sumita Kachhwaha, Dr. Manoj Gupta, Dr. SN Vijayvargiya, and Dr. Tanmay Agrawal, highlighting academic and incubation support in nurturing Indian startup ecosystem.
The event concluded with a valedictory session, where mentors and investors reaffirmed that Innofest India 2.0 is a catalyst for India’s entrepreneurial future, cementing its position as a global startup hub and driving a new era of innovation, job creation, and transformative opportunities.
