On his 64th birthday, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, launched Vande Bharatam, an ambitious nationwide initiative aimed at discovering and nurturing innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from every corner of the country, particularly those beyond traditional start-up hubs. Through a structured selection process, mentorship opportunities and a national finale, the programme aims to broaden access to entrepreneurial opportunity and support the next generation of Indian innovators.
The programme will conduct an extensive search spanning all 36 States and Union Territories and more than 800 districts, reaching diverse communities through multiple Indian languages. It seeks to identify talent from metropolitan centres, emerging cities, small towns, and rural areas alike, providing a national platform for ideas with potential for economic and social impact.
India has emerged as one of the world’s leading start-up ecosystems, yet over 80 per cent of start-up founders still hail from just five major cities. Vande Bharatam aims to bridge this gap by democratising access to visibility, mentorship, and networks for aspiring innovators nationwide. As the country strides towards the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, such inclusive participation in entrepreneurship is seen as vital for job creation, economic growth, and addressing local challenges.
The initiative is open to participants of all ages and backgrounds, irrespective of educational qualifications or professional experience. Entrants can submit concepts, prototypes, early-stage ventures, or established businesses—no registered start-up is mandatory. Applications are invited across sectors such as technology, manufacturing, sustainability, agriculture, traditional crafts, and community-driven solutions.
Special emphasis has been placed on encouraging participation from women entrepreneurs, tribal communities, rural innovators, Divyang individuals, and those tackling grassroots challenges. A structured multi-stage evaluation process will assess entries on parameters of innovation, entrepreneurial potential, impact, and scalability. Details regarding assessment criteria and jury composition will be shared subsequently.
Seventy-five finalists will be selected and invited to Ahmedabad for an intensive immersive programme involving mentorship, industry interactions, and engagement with investors. The initiative will culminate in a national Grand Finale around Independence Day.
Launching the movement, Gautam Adani said, “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… Vande Bharatam is our effort to discover the innovators, problem-solvers and entrepreneurs whose ideas deserve recognition, support and a larger platform.”
He added, “If I can do it, any Indian can do it. All they need is an opportunity and a stage.”
Finalists will receive access to mentors, investors, incubation support, strategic partnerships, prize money, and category-based recognitions. The programme is also expected to evolve into an ongoing engagement platform connecting participants with industry leaders and fellow innovators.
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. Acclaimed actor, television host, and entrepreneur Rajeev Khandelwal will serve as the Ambassador and Host of Vande Bharatam.
Applications for the initiative opened on 24 June and can be submitted at vandebharatam.org.
