Aspire Startup Program Showcases over 900 Startups at IMC 2024

The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology forum, being held at Pragati Maidan from October 15-18, set the stage for a transformative future, featuring over 900 startups under its flagship startup program, Aspire, aimed at driving innovation across diverse sectors. Aspire, IMC’s flagship startup program provided a remarkable platform for startups to showcase their innovations, engage with global investors, and gain insights through masterclasses and panel discussions led by industry leaders.

On the inaugural day of IMC 2024, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with pioneering startups like Signalchip, Astrome, Wisig Networks and Easiofy Solutions, showcasing India's leadership in cutting-edge technology innovations.

The Aspire program witnessed an inspiring fireside chat featuring Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Government of India and Ramakrishna P., CEO of India Mobile Congress. Shedding light on India’s tech-driven future, Hon’ble MoS said, “Entrepreneurship requires understanding a real human problem and most of the marquee businesses have been built on this. Understanding success takes a long time and has its ups and downs, one should be ready to face humiliations or failures in order to grow.”

Commenting on the success of the startup program, Ramakrishna P., CEO, India Mobile Congress said, “IMC 2024 saw an impressive array of startups presenting their innovative ideas across various fields. A large number of startups displayed their innovative ideas with use cases including AI, IoT, electronics and digital technologies. IMC 2024 will help them accelerate their time-to-market and get the right inputs from experts to convert the ideas into scalable businesses. IMC 2024 provided a holistic platform to these entrepreneurs by encouraging them to connect with start-up founders for a 1:1 conversation, seek mentorship, and pitch their innovative solutions to investors. It was a great learning platform where startups got a chance to hear from the best in the startup ecosystem.”

Empowering Innovation Through Collaboration

IMC’s flagship program, Aspire, partnered with Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCOE), Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) and TiE Delhi-NCR to enhance engagement across various sectors. Startups showcased cutting-edge innovations in areas such as 5G applications, AI, Deep Tech, Green Tech, and Smart Mobility, underscoring the event's commitment to fostering technological advancement.

In a major addition, the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), in collaboration with TiE Delhi-NCR, launched the 2nd edition of LEAP AHEAD at IMC 2024. This initiative focuses on empowering tech startups across India, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. Building on the success of the first edition, which saw over 180 startups pitch and 49 receive funding commitments totalling ₹78.61 crores, LEAP AHEAD 2.0 offers mentorship, funding up to ₹1 crore, and access to global markets. The program aims to accelerate growth and innovation in the tech ecosystem through mentorship sessions, investor interactions, and panel discussions.

Unparalleled Access to Investors and Mentorship

IMC 2024 provided startups with significant access to potential investors and mentors, facilitating over 500 one-on-one meetings. The event also featured more than 100 mentoring sessions, where startups received valuable guidance from industry veterans. Notable highlights included the Angel Tours, which saw 35 investors engaging directly with startups to explore investment opportunities. The track featured an impressive lineup of leading investors from firms like MeritX Ventures, 3 Lines VC, ThinKuvate, Advantedge Founders, YourNest VC, IAN Alpha Fund, Alphavalue Ventures, Mankind Pharma Family Office, JioGenNext (RIL), SACC India, Chandigarh Angels Network, TiE India Angels and Swishin Ventures, Amity Technology Incubator, Venture Catalysts, BIORx Venture Advisors, IvyCap Ventures, Faad Ventures, Fundamentum and others. These distinguished investors brought deep expertise and a wealth of knowledge, making this track a powerhouse of insights for entrepreneurs.

Insightful Masterclasses and Panels

The Aspire Track delivered a series of high-impact masterclasses designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs with real-world knowledge. Ankur Warikoo's session, “From Idea to IPO: The Startup Journey,” offered invaluable, actionable insights, guiding participants through the critical stages of building a startup. Sandeep Jayaprasada Alur, CTO at Microsoft Innovation Hub India, unveiled the immense potential of Gen AI in "Leveraging the Power of Gen AI". These sessions including other engaging sessions were more than just informative—they were transformative, providing the entrepreneurial community with cutting-edge insights and practical expertise.

A dynamic panel discussion titled “Zero to One: Crafting a Scalable Tech Startup Blueprint” brought together some of the sharpest minds in the industry. Akhil Choudhary (CEO & Managing Partner, Vaco Binary Semantics LLP), Gaurav Gupta (Co-Founder & CEO, CarePay), Kumar Amit (COO & Co-Founder, Castler), and Smita Pandey Mishra (Founder & CEO, Fandoro Technologies Pvt Ltd) shared their strategies for thriving in an ever-evolving tech landscape. Skillfully moderated by Priyank Garg (Managing Partner, IAN Alpha Fund), the discussion explored critical topics like key investment criteria, sectoral opportunities, and the challenges and opportunities in scaling tech startups, leaving the audience with actionable takeaways for building successful ventures.

In addition to these sessions, participants gained valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI and domain-specific adaptations of large language models, equipping them with the tools needed to drive innovation and growth in their own ventures. The event was a powerhouse of ideas, sparking inspiration and offering practical solutions for aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.