Gujarat Honors Women Startups and Innovators at i-Hub Event

Ahmedabad : As part of  ‘Seva, Sankalp Ane Samarpan Na 2 Varsh’ to commemorate the completion of two years of the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, an event titled ‘Celebrating Women Startups and Innovators’ event was held at i-Hub, Ahmedabad to honour the contributions of women innovators in the startup sector. 

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Women Startup Exhibition, which highlighted the innovative work of women entrepreneurs in sectors such as Clean Technology, Agritech, Healthcare, and Deep Tech. Women-led startups from various fields actively participated in the exhibition. In the event, Organized by Gujarat Knowledge Society and i-Hub, the Chief Minister interacted with women entrepreneurs and gained insights into their startup journeys. 

In his address, the Chief Minister informed about the provision of testing and validation facilities to help women startups advance from Mind to Market (concept to market). The CM mentioned that thanks to initiatives like Digital India, Start-Up India, and Stand Up India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has secured the third position globally in the startup ecosystem.

The CM also pointed out that the Prime Minister’s ‘Back to Basics’ mantra has propelled projects such as recycling and ‘best from waste,’ which are gaining momentum and inspiring many young entrepreneurs with innovative solutions. Talking about the role of women in the creation of Viksit Bharat, the Chief Minister said that today the contribution of women in the economy is 42%. 

He emphasized that the state government is committed to involving women entrepreneurs in building Viksit Bharat by providing them with the right platform, with the necessary facilities and support. Additionally, the Chief Minister announced that arrangements would be made for government departments to adopt products from women entrepreneurs and support their initiatives. Reiterating the Prime Minister’s motto ‘Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai,’ the Chief Minister noted that, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuous efforts are being made to offer a suitable platform for industries and startups in fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, through adequate facilities and support. Both the Central and State Governments are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of entrepreneurs. The Chief Minister also emphasized that Indian industries and startups are excelling in global competition with the guiding principles of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Made for All.’ He encouraged startups and women entrepreneurs to contribute to the goal of building Viksit Bharat. During the event, 10 women-led startups received grants under the Startup Srujan initiative, and 5 women startups were given allotment letters for co-working space at i-Hub, to support their growth and innovation.

During the event, Sunaina Tomar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher and Technical Education Department, delivered the welcome address, stating that the program was organized to celebrate the creativity and innovation of women innovators. She emphasized that the exhibition, a key part of the event, offered a platform for showcasing products developed by women entrepreneurs. 

She further mentioned that Gujarat has fostered an ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs through initiatives like WEstart and the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP). She also mentioned the support provided to women entrepreneurs through i-Hub and other initiatives, noting that i-Hub plays a significant role in promoting entrepreneurship among women. 

Banchha Nidhi Pani, Commissioner of Technical Education, stated that the interaction between women entrepreneurs and the Chief Minister would inspire them to pursue their ventures further. He reaffirmed that under the guidance of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, the state government is committed to providing a suitable platform for the creativity, research, and aspirations of women entrepreneurs.