Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria emphasized the transformative power of startups in shaping India’s future at the CII Chandigarh Startup Conclave 2025.

Innovation-Led Growth: India’s Startup Future

Kataria called for innovation-driven development, stating, “The answer to what India will be in 2047 lies in India’s startup ecosystem.” He highlighted that the Chandigarh Startup Policy 2025 aims to empower youth, enabling them not only to earn but also to create employment opportunities, addressing the nation’s pressing challenge of job creation.

He urged entrepreneurs to focus on agriculture, fisheries, and dairy innovations, drawing parallels with India’s 1990s liberalization policy that fueled rapid economic growth. Kataria also appreciated CII’s efforts in bringing together entrepreneurs, government, and stakeholders to nurture a vibrant startup ecosystem.

Chandigarh: A Hi-Tech Startup Hub

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner and Industries Secretary Nishant Kumar Yadav reaffirmed the UT Administration’s commitment to supporting startups with a 360-degree policy covering ideation to commercialization. He announced plans to transform Chandigarh into a hi-tech fintech city, inspired by Gujarat’s GIFT City, with a proposal to be submitted to the Centre by November.

Nishant stressed that successful startups solve real problems and assured full government support for this innovative policy.

Active Mentorship and Support for Startups

Taranjeet Singh Bhamra, Chairman of CII Chandigarh, emphasized the need for active mentoring rather than just awarding startups. He described this era as “Jai Udaan”, a time to empower entrepreneurs, following initiatives like “Jai Jawan”, “Jai Kisan”, and “Jai Vigyan”.

CII also announced the creation of a dedicated startup desk, aimed at driving industry and government projects through preferential procurement.

Key Themes and Opportunities at the Conclave

The conclave featured sessions on:

• Cultivating a startup mindset

• Capital strategies for early-stage startups

• Bridging innovation gaps

• Defence-startup collaboration

Air Vice-Marshal Ashish Srivastava, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, explained the process of co-creating solutions with startups to enhance national security. He advised startups to focus on their core expertise, engage with the ecosystem, and scale innovations strategically.

Platform for Innovation and Collaboration

The conclave offered startups an opportunity to pitch ideas, showcase innovations, and connect directly with industry and government representatives. Several promising startups collaborated with partner incubators, demonstrating solutions with strong market potential and social relevance.

The event successfully brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to discuss strategies for building a dynamic and globally competitive startup ecosystem in Chandigarh and beyond.