Gurugram, August 5, 2026: Reinforcing India’s vision of building a globally competitive and inclusive startup ecosystem, The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) successfully hosted the second edition of ASSOCHAM Investor Connect in Gurugram, bringing together startups, investors, corporates, policymakers and ecosystem enablers on a common platform to accelerate innovation-led entrepreneurship and investment. The event witnessed participation by 70 high-potential startups and 28 leading investors, with the shortlisted ventures collectively seeking investments worth nearly ₹1,500 crore through curated one-on-one pitching sessions.
The Startup Council in ASSOCHAM shortlisted 200 startups post rigorous evaluation aligned with the investment thesis of participating investors of over 450 applications from startups across India. The curated one-on-one pitching sessions spanned diverse sectors such as DefenceTech, SpaceTech, Advanced Manufacturing, ClimateTech, Cybersecurity, FinTech, SaaS, ConsumerTech, EV & Mobility, HealthTech, CleanTech, AgriTech, and IT/ITeS.
A notable highlight of this year’s edition was the sharp rise in participation by young innovators, increasing from nearly 15% in the first edition to around 30% in this edition, reflecting the growing entrepreneurial aspirations of India’s young talent and the increasing confidence in structured platforms that connect startups with investors and industry.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Priyanka Shukla (IAS), CEO, MY Bharat, Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, emphasized that India’s entrepreneurial future lies far beyond metropolitan cities. She also emphasized, “India’s youth do not lack ideas they need access, exposure, mentorship and opportunities. The next generation of founders will emerge not only from metros but also from Tier II, III and IV cities, villages and aspirational districts. Platforms like ASSOCHAM Investor Connect play a critical role in connecting young innovators with investors, mentors and industry, ensuring that talent from every corner of the country gets an opportunity to innovate, solve real-world problems and contribute to nation building. MY Bharat looks forward to deepening its collaboration with ASSOCHAM to empower the country’s youth through meaningful opportunities,”.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India said that, “India’s next generation of technology-led enterprises will be built through stronger partnerships between startups, industry and investors. As innovation evolves rapidly, it is important to back startups that are solving real-world problems, building intellectual property and creating sustainable businesses with strong governance. MeitY Startup Hub is committed to enabling this journey through mentorship, market access and funding, and platforms like ASSOCHAM Investor Connect play a vital role in fostering these collaborations and driving India’s innovation-led growth. He complimented ASSOCHAM for creating a collaborative space that brought startups, investors and corporates under one roof towards building a robust ecosystem for startups.”
ASSOCHAM stands committed to creating an ecosystem where promising ideas receive not only access to capital but also mentorship, market linkages and strategic partnerships through Investor Connect, we remain committed to fostering meaningful collaborations that transform innovation into scalable enterprises and contribute to India’s vision of becoming a global innovation powerhouse. Going forward, we are endeavouring to extend our reach to tier 2 and 3 towns and cities.” said Dr. Ambika Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Arpit Agarwal, Chair, ASSOCHAM National Startup Council and Partner, Blume Ventures, highlighted the importance of creating stronger linkages across the startup ecosystem. He mentioned, “Every successful startup contributes to nation building. At ASSOCHAM, we are committed to creating an ecosystem where startups can seamlessly connect with investors, corporates and government stakeholders to accelerate innovation and growth. By fostering these collaborations, we aim to help founders scale faster and strengthen India’s position as a leading global innovation hub. ASSOCHAM Investor Connect is the beginning of a long-term effort to build these meaningful partnerships.“
Sharing the industry perspective, Mr. Rohan Chhatwal, Co-Chair, ASSOCHAM National Startup Council and VP – Innovation & Governance Excellence, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, stressed that startups must be viewed as strategic innovation partners rather than merely beneficiaries of corporate support. “Supporting startups is an investment in innovation and nation building. By providing startups with opportunities to validate their solutions, access their first customers and scale through industry partnerships, we can create a stronger and more resilient innovation ecosystem. As more corporates actively engage with startups—not as a CSR initiative but as a strategic innovation imperative—we can collectively accelerate technology adoption and strengthen India’s innovation journey. Platforms like ASSOCHAM Investor Connect are instrumental in bringing together startups, industry, investors and policymakers to create lasting impact,“ said Mr. Rohan Chhatwal, Co-Chair, ASSOCHAM National Startup Council and VP – Innovation & Governance Excellence, Maruti Suzuki India Limited.
The event also featured keynote addresses by Dr. Tapan Sahoo, Senior Executive Officer – Digital Enterprise, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, and Mr. Nitin Jain, Co-Founder, 1Buy.AI, along with a high-level panel discussion titled “From Innovation to Scale: Strengthening Collaboration Between Startups, Industry, Investors & Financial Institutions,” featuring leaders from the Government of Haryana, IAN Group, Schneider Electric, Smartworks, AZB & Partners and Startup Haryana as strategic partner.
The day concluded with curated one-on-one investor meetings, enabling promising startups to pitch directly to leading venture capital firms, angel investors and institutional investors, further reinforcing ASSOCHAM’s commitment to fostering innovation, facilitating access to capital and creating meaningful partnerships that support India’s journey towards becoming a global innovation powerhouse.
