Tag: DPIIT

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DPIIT Recognises Goa as Best Performer for Building a Strong Startup Ecosystem

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

Goa has been conferred the Best Performer award for developing a strong startup ecosystem under the States’ Startup Ecosystem Ranking – Category B, instituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India. Considered one of India’s most comprehensive startup ecosystem assessments, the ranking evaluates states on policy frameworks, ecosystem maturity and measurable outcomes for startups.

The DPIIT ranking evaluates all States and Union Territories across defined categories based on population size and performance, assessing progress across multiple reform areas including policy support, institutional frameworks, infrastructure, access to funding, market linkages, capacity building and innovation-led growth.

The recognition was announced during the National Startup Day celebrations held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Certificate of Appreciation was received on behalf of the Government of Goa by Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), and D. S. Prashant, CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC).

This achievement reflects the sustained and strategic efforts of DITE&C, through SITPC, in nurturing a robust, innovation-led startup ecosystem. Through progressive policies, strong institutional support and close collaboration with industry, academia and ecosystem partners, Goa has created an enabling environment that supports startups across the entire lifecycle, from ideation to scale-up.

The recognition was also highlighted in the Goa Legislative Assembly, where the Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, acknowledged the collective efforts of the government, institutions and the startup community in achieving this milestone.

The award underscores Goa’s emergence as a dynamic startup hub and reaffirms the State’s continued focus on fostering innovation-led entrepreneurship that drives opportunity creation, economic impact and inclusive growth.

EduConnect

From a Goan Garage to a National Award: How Bodhami is Redefining Career Guidance in India

Tanisha Cardozo

Panaji, Goa – July 2025

In a landmark achievement for Goa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Bodhami, an AI-powered career guidance and skilling platform, has been selected among India’s Top 30 Startups by Startup India – DPIIT, from a pool of over 200,000 startups, and awarded the National Startup Award for Rural Impact in the Access to Open Education category.

This makes Bodhami the first and only Goan startup to receive such a distinction at the national level.

🚀 Humble Roots, Bold Vision

Founded in 2018 in a small garage by Damodar Pai Patnekar, an ex-Wipro digital leader, along with IIT–IIM alumnus Ashutosh Sankar and tech architect Aarthy Vasan, Bodhami set out with a mission: to make career guidance and employability accessible, personalised, and affordable—especially for rural and underserved populations.

Damodar’s personal “trigger point” came after 15 years in corporate leadership roles when he realised that over 70% of working professionals were unhappy, and more than 55% of fresh graduates were unemployable. The problem, he believed, began with a lack of career awareness at the right time—typically classes 10 and 12.

“We asked ourselves: What if students could receive truly personalised guidance early on? What if AI could map their strengths to careers, and then help them upskill accordingly?” says Damodar.

🧠 Technology with a Purpose

Bodhami’s platform uses AI and real-world professional data to generate career paths, skill gap assessments, and learning recommendations tailored to individual users. Unlike generic counselling, Bodhami focuses on contextual, data-backed insights.

From career discovery and scholarships to corporate preparedness and job placement, Bodhami addresses the full spectrum of career building.

🌎 National & Global Impact

With its HQ in Goa and operations in over 350 Indian cities and 9 countries, Bodhami has:

  • Empowered 100,000+ students and professionals
  • Conducted 300–400 sessions yearly across India
  • Trained 700+ teachers on career counselling using its AI tool
  • Conducted state-wide career programs across 250+ schools in Goa
  • Delivered over 3,000 scholarships to underprivileged youth

It also partnered with Goa State Innovation Council (GSInC) to launch Innovation Test, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the state.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Bodhami’s recognitions include:

  • National Startup Award – Rural Impact (Open Education)
  • SKOCH Award for rural development
  • Tally MSME Champions of Change
  • IT Educator Award – Govt. of Goa
  • Selected for India–Sweden Innovation Day, VivaTech Paris, SCO Startup Showcase, and INFINITY – Indo-French startup exchange

Recognised by Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA) and IAAP

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Powered by People

Bodhami is built by a lean core team of 10 professionals working remotely, and supported by:

  • 5,000+ certified counsellors
  • 200+ franchise partners
  • 100+ global affiliates

Together, this ecosystem ensures that career guidance reaches even the remotest students in India.

🌱 A Message for Future Entrepreneurs

“If someone from a remote Goan village can build a national award-winning platform, then anyone with commitment and passion can do it,” Damodar shares.
“Entrepreneurship teaches what textbooks can’t—resilience, empathy, and purpose.”

Bodhami’s journey is more than a startup story—it’s a movement for a better future, where every student has the guidance and tools to build a career they love.

📍 Headquartered in Goa
🏆 India’s Top 30 Startups – Startup India
🌍 Reach: 350+ cities | 9 countries
🎯 Mission: Empower 10 million lives in 5 years