India AI Impact Summit 2026

scaling-innovation-building-a-robust-ai-startup-ecosystem

7 min read

TRACK:Economic Growth and Social Good
SPEAKERS
  • Ms. Neerja Sekhar, IAS, DG, NPC
  • Sh. Bala MS, GCC Leader & CEO Stratinfinity Inc
  • Ms. Geetika Dayal, Director General, TiE
  • Sh. Ashok Gupta, Director, STPI-Gurugram
  • Sh. Rakesh Dubey, STPI-HQ
SESSION OVERVIEW

The session will deliberate on the national imperative of building a robust and future-ready AI startup ecosystem, highlighting STPI's role through its pan-India startup support framework, structured programmes, and digital enablement platforms that foster a connected innovation landscape. It will also underscore the contribution of Global Capability Centres and the National Productivity Council in strengthening productivity standards, industry alignment, and capability development to support scalable AI enterprises. During the session, select technology startups supported under the STPI ecosystem will be felicitated at the AI Impact Summit for their demonstrated innovation, scalability, and measurable outcomes. The recognition will cover startups leveraging artificial intelligence and other advanced digital technologies, with validated impact in terms of revenue growth, employment generation, and sectoral contribution, including emerging success stories from Tier-II and Tier-III regions contributing to India's innovation-led digital economy. ... Read More

VIDEO RECORDING

Scaling Innovation: Building a Robust AI Startup Ecosystem

Abstract

The session celebrated startups that have flourished under the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) ecosystem. Startups were honoured across a spectrum of metrics – revenue growth, funding raised, employment generation, women‑employment, AI‑driven impact, and innovative product breakthroughs. After the awards, a shortlist of founders shared concise narratives of their journeys, highlighting how STPI programmes, mentorship, and funding support accelerated product development, market traction, and social impact. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of mementos to key dignitaries, a formal vote of thanks, and reflections on the broader significance of a coordinated, pan‑India AI startup ecosystem.

Detailed Summary

The host opened the segment by emphasizing the “national imperative of building a robust and future‑ready AI startup ecosystem.” The audience was asked to welcome the dignitaries—DG Neerja Sekhar (NPC), DG Ashok Gupta (STPI‑Gurugram), and other senior officials—to present certificates and trophies. The ceremony’s purpose was framed as recognising “excellence across revenue, funding, employment, women participation, innovation and AI‑led impact.”

Announcements

  • Recognition Scope: Start‑ups supported by STPI were evaluated on five quantitative axes: revenue (≤ 25 CR, ≤ 50 CR), funding raised, employment created, women‑employment, and AI‑driven impact (beneficiary counts).
  • Geographic Inclusion: Winners were drawn from Tier‑II and Tier‑III regions, underscoring the pan‑India reach of the ecosystem.

2. Award Presentations – Startup Winners

The host read out each award category, called the relevant startup onto the stage, and invited the two dignitaries (DG STPI & DG NPC) to hand over the certificate and trophy. Below is the ordered list of recognised firms and the category in which they were honoured.

StartupCategory (Revenue Tier)Key Metric Highlighted
Phoenix Marine Exports & Solutions Pvt. Ltd.Highest revenue (≤ 25 CR) – Tier‑2/3 impactRevenue leadership in lower‑tier regions
Zemio Consulting Pvt. Ltd.Highest funding raised (≤ 25 CR)Successful fundraising
Swadha Agri Pvt. Ltd.Highest employment generation (≤ 25 CR)Job creation
Strangify Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Highest women‑employment (≤ 25 CR)Empowering female workforce
Suhora Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Highest revenue (≤ 50 CR)Scaling beyond 25 CR bracket
Puvation Technologies Solutions Pvt. Ltd.Highest funding raised (≤ 50 CR)Larger funding round
Seqora Tech IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd.Multiple honors – Highest employment, Highest women‑employment, Highest AI‑based impact (all ≤ 50 CR)Broad, multi‑dimensional excellence
Atmic Bharat Industries Pvt. Ltd.Highest impact (beneficiary count) – 1st placeSocietal reach
Mobile Pay E‑Commerce Pvt. Ltd.Highest impact (beneficiary count) – 2nd placeSignificant outreach
Devanagari AI Pvt. Ltd.Impact based on revenue – 2nd placeAI‑driven commercial impact
Dectrocell Healthcare & Research Pvt. Ltd.Most innovative startup – 1st placeBreakthrough in health tech
Ezio5 Solutions Pvt. Ltd.Most promising innovation – 1st placeHigh potential
Connector Foods Pvt. Ltd.Most innovative startup – 2nd placeCreative excellence
Pew Slade Innovations Pvt. Ltd.Most promising innovation – 2nd placeForward‑looking vision

Each award was punctuated by applause, and the host repeatedly thanked the audience for celebrating the honourees.

3. Founder Spotlights – Startup Journey Presentations

After the awards, each selected founder was invited to briefly narrate their start‑up story, focusing on the role STPI played, product impact, and future aspirations.

3.1 Pew Slade Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (Uselage Innovations) – Founder: Devika Chandrasekaran

  • STPI Entry: Joined the Scout 2021 programme while still a prototype stage.
  • Support Received: Validation and early‑stage mentorship, described as “more than funding – a confidence boost.”
  • Product & Impact: Manufactures drones for agriculture, defence, disaster‑management, and maritime operations; serves > 10,000 Indian farmers.
  • Accolades: Received the National Startup Award; presented the journey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Gratitude: Emphasised STPI’s ecosystem, encouragement, and early trust as decisive factors.

3.2 TectraCell (Drosals) – Founder: Dr. Soumya

  • Solution: AI‑powered diagnostic platform merging radiology with DNA sequencing to combat drug resistance and accelerate clinical trials.
  • STPI Contributions: Assistance with regulatory navigation, global collaborations, and data acquisition.
  • Strategic Positioning: Leveraging STPI’s support to scale globally from India.

3.3 SecureTech (Seqwera Tech IT Solutions) – Speaker: Arita Dalan

  • Company Profile: Cyber‑security firm delivering end‑to‑end security frameworks for enterprises across pharma, banking, finance, and emerging digital firms.
  • STPI Interaction: Long‑standing partnership, facilitating industry‑connect events, investor introductions, and collaboration opportunities.
  • Core Mantra: “Simplify security” for organisations of all sizes.

3.4 InBot (Kane Boat Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) – Founders: Team (unspecified)

  • Innovation: AI‑driven food‑robotics platform; created the world’s first autonomous fresh‑sugarcane‑juice vending machine.
  • Social Impact: Provides hygienic beverages, creates market linkages for sugarcane farmers, ensures fair pricing, and promotes a circular economy.
  • STPI Role: Mentorship, peer network, exposure through STPI‑hosted platforms (Tycon Exposure) leading to global investor access and credibility boost.

3.5 EZO5 Solutions Pvt. Ltd. – Co‑founders: Noor Fatma & Meenal Gupta

  • Product: Imagics AI – an AI platform for precision radiotherapy treatment planning in oncology.
  • Milestones: Processed ~1 million scans; in the last three months flagged 4 000 TB cases, 6 lung‑cancer cases, and generated 1 000 radiotherapy plans, cutting planning time from a month to a week.
  • STPI Intervention: Helped secure funding when cash‑flow was critically low; subsequent growth attracted national attention (PM Modi) and international interest (Bill Gates, Microsoft).
  • Vision: Transition from a domestic to a global health‑tech provider.

3.6 Additional Mentioned Start‑ups (Brief)

  • Ezio5 Solutions – Recognised as “Most promising innovation.”
  • Connector Foods – Recognised as “Most innovative startup – 2nd position.”
  • Dectrocell Healthcare & Research – Recognised as “Most innovative startup – 1st position.”

These founders echoed similar themes: STPI’s mentorship, access to capital, regulatory assistance, and networking were decisive in accelerating product development and market entry.

4. Presentation of Mementos to Dignitaries

Following the founder spotlights, the ceremony transitioned to a formal acknowledgment of the dignitaries:

  • Shri Ashok Gupta (Director, STPI‑Gurugram) presented a memento to Ms. Neerja Sekhar (DG, NPC).
  • Shri Atul Kumar Singh (Additional Director, STPI) presented a memento to Shri Bala MS (GCC Leader, Stratinfinity Inc).
  • Shri Shribraveen Kumar (Joint Director, SDPI) presented mementos to Ms. Geetika Dayal (Director General, TiE) and Shri Rakesh Dubey (Director, STPI‑HQ).

Each exchange was accompanied by applause, reinforcing the collaborative spirit among government bodies, industry associations, and the startup community.

5. Vote of Thanks – Joint Director, SDPI

Shribraveen Kumar delivered the formal vote of thanks, highlighting:

  • The collective effort of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), National Productivity Council (NPC), TiE, and the GCC in nurturing a “forward‑looking, carefully curated” ecosystem.
  • Ms. Neerja Sekhar’s reflections on productivity growth and its importance for state‑level economic development.
  • Mr. Bala MS’s industry‑focused lens, stressing pragmatic pathways for startups to scale.
  • Gratitude to the organising team for seamless execution, and an invitation to all participants for group photographs.

6. Closing Remarks & Group Photograph

The session concluded with a series of logistical calls:

  • Start‑ups were asked to collect their trophies.
  • All dignitaries and founders were invited to the stage for a group photograph.
  • The floor was opened for informal networking and additional photo opportunities.

The final ambience was celebratory, underscoring the ongoing commitment of the Indian government and ecosystem partners to sustain an AI‑driven entrepreneurial climate.

Key Takeaways

  • STPI’s Structured Support (programmes, mentorship, regulatory aid) is repeatedly cited by founders as a catalyst for securing funding, scaling operations, and achieving product‑market fit.
  • Multi‑Dimensional Metrics (revenue, funding, employment, women‑employment, AI impact) were used to recognise startups, reflecting a holistic view of ecosystem health.
  • Tier‑II/III Inclusion: Winners from non‑metropolitan regions demonstrate the pan‑India reach of the ecosystem and the viability of high‑impact innovation outside traditional hubs.
  • AI‑Driven Social Impact: Startups such as Uselage Innovations (agri‑drones) and EZO5 Solutions (oncology AI) showcased tangible societal benefits—farm productivity, disease detection, and accelerated treatment planning.
  • International Traction: Founder narratives highlighted global interest (e.g., Bill Gates, Microsoft) which often followed STPI‑enabled credibility and exposure.
  • Women‑Employment Emphasis: Dedicated awards (e.g., Strangify Technologies) signal a policy focus on gender‑inclusive growth within the tech sector.
  • Collaborative Governance: The joint presence of NPC, STPI, TiE, and GCC leaders underscores a coordinated, multi‑stakeholder approach to ecosystem building.
  • Recognition as Motivation: Public felicitation and the awarding of trophies served as morale boosters, reinforcing the message that sustained government‑backed support yields measurable outcomes.
  • Future Outlook: The ceremony’s concluding remarks stressed continuity—persistent mentorship, expanded digital‑enablement platforms, and ongoing productivity initiatives are positioned as the next steps for scaling AI startups nationwide.

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