On his 64th birthday, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, launched Vande Bharatam, a national initiative to identify and support innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers across India. According to reports from ANI, the initiative is designed to bring promising ideas and entrepreneurial talent from beyond India's traditional start-up centres onto a national platform. Vande Bharatam will cover 36 states and union territories, more than 800 districts and multiple Indian languages, making it one of India's broadest platforms for entrepreneurial discovery and innovation. As reported by ANI, Adani emphasized that the initiative seeks to discover individuals whose ideas deserve greater recognition and support, stating "If I can do it, any Indian can do it. All they need is an opportunity and a stage."
As reported by ANI, India today ranks among the world's leading start-up ecosystems, yet more than 80% of start-up founders continue to emerge from just five cities, leaving many aspiring innovators without access to visibility, mentorship and networks. The initiative seeks to widen that access, looking for individuals with ideas, solutions and enterprises capable of creating economic and social impact from metropolitan centres, emerging cities, small towns and rural communities. Participants may apply with a concept, prototype, early-stage venture or established business, with a registered start-up not required. According to the latest reports, India currently ranks among the world's leading startup ecosystems, yet industry estimates suggest that a majority of startup founders continue to emerge from a handful of major cities. As India advances towards the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, expanding participation in entrepreneurship and innovation will be critical to driving economic growth, creating jobs and solving local challenges.
According to the company release, applications are invited from a wide range of sectors including technology, manufacturing, sustainability, agriculture, traditional crafts and community-led solutions. Participation from women entrepreneurs, tribal entrepreneurs, rural innovators, Divyang entrepreneurs and community-based innovators addressing local challenges will be encouraged. Following state and regional evaluations, 75 finalists will be invited to Ahmedabad for an intensive programme featuring mentorship, industry interactions and engagement with investors and business leaders. Finalists will receive access to mentors, investors, industry leaders, incubation support and strategic partnerships that can help transform ideas into enterprises. The selected participants will receive access to incubation support, strategic partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and investor networks, with details regarding prize money and category-specific awards to be announced later. The programme will also include prize money and category-based recognitions, with details to be announced at a later stage.
Launching the initiative, Gautam Adani stated, "When I began my journey, I had nothing. Everything I am and everything I have achieved was given to me by the soil of Bharat. There is no shortage of talent in our nation, but opportunity has not always reached every corner of the country." As reported by ANI, he added that India has built one of the world's largest start-up ecosystems, yet most founders still emerge from a handful of cities. The Grand Finale, scheduled around Independence Day, will mark the beginning of an ongoing engagement platform connecting participants with mentors, investors, industry leaders and fellow innovators. According to the latest reports, Adani emphasized that Vande Bharatam is our effort to discover the innovators, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs whose ideas deserve recognition, support, and a larger platform. Together, the finalists will represent a cross-section of talent from across regions, sectors, and communities.
Applications opened on June 24 at vandebharatam.org with Actor Rajeev Khandelwal serving as the ambassador and host of Vande Bharatam. According to the company, entries will undergo a structured evaluation process focused on innovation, entrepreneurial potential, impact and scalability. The initiative is open to anyone with an idea, innovation, solution or entrepreneurial ambition, irrespective of age, profession, educational background or stage of development. The programme also aims to create a long-term engagement platform connecting participants with mentors, investors, industry leaders, and fellow innovators. Additional details relating to assessment criteria, jury composition and selection stages will be announced in due course.
