Tag: Innovation Ecosystem

TechPulse

Goa Building Strong Startup Ecosystem with Capital, Mentorship and Market Access: Minister Rohan Khaunte

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, February 12, 2026:
The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, through the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), officially launched the Goa Startup Accelerator (GSA) Programme on Wednesday. The initiative aims to provide structured mentorship, market access, investment opportunities and growth support to startups across the state.


The launch event, held at Novotel, Panaji, brought together startups, ecosystem enablers, industry leaders and government officials.

The event was attended by Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism and Printing & Stationery; Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C; Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C; and D.S. Prashant, CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Rohan Khaunte said Goa is steadily emerging as a strong startup destination.

“Today, Goa is not just known for its quality of life, but for its forward-looking policies and a growing startup ecosystem of 734 DPIIT-registered startups, nearly half of which are women-led. Through the Goa Startup Policy 2025 and its 12 comprehensive schemes, along with initiatives like the Goa Accelerator Program and the Goa Open Innovation Challenge, we are creating an environment where startups have access to capital, mentorship, skills, infrastructure and real market opportunities. The Government is committed to providing every possible resource and support,” he said.

The Goa Startup Accelerator Programme is a structured five-month initiative running from February to June 2026. It will culminate in a Demo Day where participating startups will showcase their progress and innovations.

The event began with an orientation session for startups registered under the programme. Participants were briefed on the structure and roadmap of the accelerator. Startups also pitched their ideas to experts and interacted with mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.

Winners of the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 were felicitated during the event. In the startup category, SOLO Network, Cidroy Technologies LLP and So-AIR were honoured. In the student category, Suraj Vishwakarma and team from Padre Conceição College of Engineering, Verna, and Dattaprasad Narendra Prabhu and team from Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, were recognised. The Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 Report was also released by the Minister.

Winners of the MedTech Hackathon, organised by the National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH & Integrative Medicine (NAPCAIM) in collaboration with DITE&C, were also awarded. The winning teams included Team Biomade, Team My Pallo Friend and Team Kindred Tech.

The programme additionally recognised several government and ecosystem enablers for their contribution to Goa’s growing innovation landscape.

Through forward-looking policies, targeted schemes and collaborative platforms, DITE&C continues to strengthen Goa’s innovation-driven economy and support startups at every stage of growth.

TechPulse

Goa Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with 10th Empowered Committee Meet Under Startup Policy 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communication (DITE&C), Government of Goa, convened the 10th Empowered Committee Meeting at the Conference Hall, Mantralaya, Porvorim, to review and evaluate applications under the Seed Capital Grant Scheme of the Goa Startup Policy 2025. The meeting marked another significant step in the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its startup ecosystem and promote innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

The committee was chaired by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, and co-chaired by Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Electronics and Communications. Senior government officials and industry leaders were present, including representatives from the Department of Industries, Directorate of Education, ITG, GCCI, Goa Technology Association and leading technology firms, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation process backed by policy, industry and academic perspectives.

The Seed Capital Grant Scheme, a flagship initiative under the Goa Startup Policy 2025, provides one-time financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh to startups that have developed a Minimum Viable Product. A total of 27 applications were received by the Startup and IT Promotion Cell, which were scrutinised by an Expert Committee before being placed before the Empowered Committee. After detailed discussions and evaluations based on innovation, feasibility, scalability, revenue potential and long-term sustainability, 16 startups were shortlisted, of which eight were selected for funding.

The selected startups represent a wide spectrum of emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, construction technology, tourism discovery, digital accessibility, micro-task platforms and regional OTT content. Each of these ventures showcased solutions developed in Goa, reflecting the state’s growing capability to nurture homegrown innovation with national and global potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rohan Khaunte highlighted that the quality of ideas presented reaffirmed Goa’s position as an emerging startup destination in India. He emphasised that early-stage financial support through the Seed Capital Grant Scheme plays a crucial role in helping founders transition from ideas to scalable enterprises, while also reinforcing the government’s commitment to building a long-term innovation-friendly environment in the state.

In addition to startup funding, the meeting also focused on encouraging innovation at the academic level. Cheques of ₹50,000 each were presented to 10 student projects under the newly launched Campus Innovation Scheme. Five engineering colleges across Goa received funding for projects spanning advanced biomedical research, artificial intelligence applications, agriculture technology, drone-based security systems, assistive wearable devices and sustainable manufacturing solutions.

The growing participation in these schemes reflects Goa’s increasing appeal as a startup and innovation hub. Through initiatives like the Seed Capital Grant Scheme and Campus Innovation Scheme, the Government of Goa continues to invest in ideas, talent and technology, creating an enabling ecosystem where startups and young innovators can build, scale and succeed from Goa.

TechPulse

Close to 500 Tech Solutions: Final Hours to Register for Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025

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Open Forum for Startups Scheduled on 7th May to Build on This Momentum

Altinho, May 06, 2025: The Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025, an initiative launched by the Startup & IT Promotion Cell under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, announces its last call for registration, with close to 500 startups from India and across the globe already joining the movement.

This overwhelming response reflects the growing interest in Goa’s innovation ecosystem. The Challenge, which invited problem-solvers to tackle real-world challenges across sectors such as Tourism, Waste Management, Agriculture, Public Services, NABARD, and Industry, has emerged as a platform where startups, student innovators, government departments, and industry leaders converge to drive change.

Through this initiative, selected participants will gain direct piloting opportunities with government and industry stakeholders, enabling them to test, validate, and scale their solutions where it matters most.

As the Challenge moves into its next phase, an Open Forum for Startups will be held on 7th May 2025, between 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM. Startups can choose to join virtually via Google Meet or visit the IT Hub, Altinho during this time. The forum will serve as a space to raise queries, share insights, and engage in meaningful discussion. Click here to register for the Open Forum

With the finale scheduled for 30th May 2025, the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 has already made its mark as a bold step towards scalable innovation—positioning Goa as a ground for developing and deploying practical, technology-led solutions.