Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 31 July 2026: The Shiv Nadar Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, in collaboration with StartinUP, an initiative of the Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, launched the inaugural edition of The Capital Connect at HCL Group office, Noida.
The Capital Connect is a dedicated startup–investor engagement platform designed to strengthen collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives, corporates and industry leaders. The initiative seeks to improve startups’ access to capital, facilitate strategic partnerships and support venture growth, reinforcing Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation.
The inaugural edition brought together more than 50 startups, venture capital firms, alternative investment funds, senior government officials, corporates, innovation leaders and other ecosystem stakeholders to explore opportunities for investment, strategic collaboration and business growth.
A key highlight was the Venture Connect segment, in which 20 selected startups participated in focused one-on-one meetings with investors who had expressed interest in their ventures. The curated interactions enabled founders to present their business models, discuss growth plans and explore potential investment and partnership opportunities. The event also featured two engaging panel discussions—one bringing together startup founders to share their entrepreneurial journeys, challenges and growth experiences, and another featuring leading investors who discussed funding trends, investment priorities and what they look for in high-potential startups.
Shri Himanshu Kaushik (IAS), Managing Director, UP Electronics Corporation Limited, said, “Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a dynamic hub for startups, supported by a growing pool of entrepreneurs, talent and innovation-led enterprises. Through StartinUP, we are working to create an enabling environment in which founders can access mentorship, markets, capital and institutional support. The Capital Connect brings promising startups into direct conversation with investors and creates opportunities for partnerships that can help them scale. Our commitment is to support startups throughout their entire journey—from the very beginning until they successfully commercialize their products and build sustainable businesses. We want every startup to succeed, and wherever support from the Government is needed, we will continue to stand with them at every stage of their growth,”
Mr Pawan Danwar, CFO & President, HCL Group and Shiv Nadar Foundation, said, “I truly believe that whatever we do, we should first have a strong belief in it. Whatever we do should solve a genuine problem, and there should be values around it. At Shiv Nadar Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), we are committed to building an ecosystem that enables startups to innovate, collaborate, and grow. Platforms such as The Capital Connect help bridge the gap between innovative founders and investors seeking high-quality opportunities. By enabling focused conversations and meaningful connections, the initiative can help promising startups move from early potential to sustainable growth.”
The Capital Connect is the first in a series of startup and investor engagements leading up to InvestoPitch 4.0, Shiv Nadar AIC’s flagship investor-connect platform. Selected startups emerging from these engagements will have the opportunity to present their ventures to a wider investor community at InvestoPitch 4.0.
Through the collaboration, Shiv Nadar AIC and StartinUP aim to establish a sustained platform that enhances investment readiness, deepens engagement between founders and investors, and accelerates the growth of technology-led startups.
Sheeba Khan, CEO, AIC – Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, said, “The Government of Uttar Pradesh’s StartinUP initiative is playing a pivotal role in accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship across the state. We are delighted to collaborate with an initiative that shares our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening the startup ecosystem. At Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, our focus is on helping founders translate promising ideas into viable and scalable ventures. The Capital Connect creates a valuable pathway for startups to engage directly with investors, gain strategic perspectives and build relationships that can support their next phase of growth.”
Aligned with the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s vision of positioning the state as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR remains committed to nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem. By strengthening connections among entrepreneurs, investors, industry and government, Shiv Nadar AIC is enabling high-potential startups to gain greater access to capital, strategic partnerships and growth opportunities, while contributing to India’s innovation-led economic development.
About Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR
Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, is a student-centric, multidisciplinary research university offering various academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The Institution was set up in 2011 by the Shiv Nadar Foundation, a philanthropic foundation established by Mr. Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL. As per QS Asia 2025 rankings, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, India’s youngest Institution of Eminence (IoE), is placed amongst the top 22% institutions in Asia. As per the Nature India Index 2024, it was ranked amongst the top 25 Indian institutions for research. In the Government’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Shiv Nadar IoE has been the youngest institution in the ‘top 100’ Overall list for nine consecutive years.
About Shiv Nadar AIC
Shiv Nadar Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), established in 2017 with the support of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, is a premier, technology-agnostic incubation centre at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR. It supports innovation-driven startups through incubation, mentorship, access to world-class research infrastructure, investor connect, industry partnerships and business support, enabling entrepreneurs to build scalable, technology-led ventures across sectors such as AI, robotics, healthtech, agritech, Industry 4.0 and other emerging technologies.
About StartinUP
StartInUP is the flagship startup initiative of the Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, implemented by Uttar Pradesh Electronics Corporation Limited (UPLC). It aims to build a world-class startup ecosystem by providing policy support, incubation, funding facilitation, mentorship, investor connect and market access to startups. Through its network of incubators, Centres of Excellence and ecosystem partners, StartInUP enables entrepreneurs to scale innovative ventures while contributing to economic growth and job creation in the state.
