Tag: startups

Business

IEW 2026 Wraps Up in Goa with Awards for Clean Energy and Technology Excellence

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Goa, January 30, 2026:
India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 concluded in Goa, celebrating innovators, startups, and leaders driving India’s energy transition. The four-day event, held from January 27 to 30, brought together policymakers, investors, and industry executives to discuss solutions for a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future.


Startups Take Centre Stage

The AVINYA Energy Startup Challenge highlighted emerging Indian companies delivering technology-driven solutions:

Winner: Minimines Cleantech Solutions – for low-carbon recovery of high-value materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.

1st Runner-Up: Ossus Biorenewables – for converting industrial wastewater into green hydrogen.
2nd Runner-Up: Tranzmeo IT Solutions – for AI-powered fiber-sensing applications for pipelines and CCUS processes.
3rd Runner-Up: Rezlytix Technologies – for AI-driven tools optimising oil and gas exploration.
4th Runner-Up: Petrobot Technologies – for robotic inspection in hydrocarbon plants.
The international VASUDHA Upstream Startup Challenge recognised global innovators:
Winner: SENERGETICS, The Netherlands – for AI-based corrosion monitoring.
Runner-Up: Resermine Inc, USA – for hybrid reservoir engineering solutions.

Hackathon Highlights
Seven premier institutes competed in a hackathon focused on energy technology:
Winner: IIT Bombay – for Aura, an AI-driven unified reservoir analysis platform.
Runner-Up: IIT Delhi – for a circular economy approach converting steel industry waste into CO₂ capture solutions.
Industry Excellence Awards
The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) recognised outstanding achievements:
Exploration Company of the Year: ONGC
Production Company of the Year (Over 1 MTOE): Oil India Limited
Production Company of the Year (Under 1 MTOE): Sun Petrochemicals Pvt. Ltd.
Refinery of the Year: Reliance Industries Ltd., SEZ Refinery, Jamnagar
Innovator of the Year (Joint Winners): Indian Oil R&D Division & Mangalore Refinery Innovation Center
Best Managed Project: Shell India (PMG JV)
City Gas Distribution Co. of the Year: Indraprastha Gas Limited
Pipeline Transportation Co. of the Year: BPCL
Oil Marketing Co. of the Year: HPCL
Young Achievers: Ms. Vanashree Mahatre & Mr. Karthik R.
The awards reflected India’s commitment to energy innovation, sustainable growth, and global leadership.

Finance

HDFC Bank Group Concludes HDFC Tech Innovators 2025, Honours 10 Winning Startups

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank Group successfully concluded the fourth edition of HDFC Tech Innovators 2025, marking another milestone in its commitment to strengthening India’s startup ecosystem. The event honoured ten winning startups across six sectors and awarded two special recognitions to emerging women founders. This year’s edition saw remarkable national participation, with over 1,600 startups applying from more than 290 cities across the country, reflecting the rapid growth and expanding reach of India’s innovation landscape.

HDFC Tech Innovators 2025 was organised jointly by HDFC Bank, HDFC Capital and HDFC AMC, with active support from HDFC Life, HDFC Ergo, HDFC Securities and HDB Financial Services. The initiative was conceived as a platform to recognise early-stage startups and enable meaningful collaboration between founders and HDFC Group companies. In previous editions, the programme has helped identify high-potential ventures such as QNu Labs, a pioneer in quantum-safe cybersecurity, in which HDFC Bank subsequently invested. The Group also supports young ventures through Parivartan, its CSR arm, by partnering with leading incubators across India.

Speaking at the event, Ashish Parthasarthy, Group Head of Branch Banking, Payments, Treasury, Liability Products, Marketing, Virtual Channels and Infrastructure at HDFC Bank, highlighted the Group’s ongoing commitment to fostering India’s next generation of corporations. He emphasised that the bank’s StartUp BuildUp programme offers one-of-a-kind solutions, from customised current accounts to health cover, commercial cards and regulatory support for FDI and ODI transactions, designed to empower startups from the very beginning of their journey.

Navneet Munot, MD & CEO of HDFC AMC, noted that innovation continues to reshape every aspect of human progress — spanning finance, healthcare, deep tech, space technology and frontier sciences. He reiterated that HDFC Bank Group sees itself as a long-term partner in India’s innovation journey. At HDFC AMC, the mission remains to channel the country’s entrepreneurial energy into wealth creation for millions of Indians. He described HDFC Tech Innovators as a celebration of the visionaries shaping the future.

Vipul Roongta, CEO of HDFC Capital, underscored how technology and innovation are transforming the built world and redefining every step of the value chain. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to future-ready business models and emerging technology-led solutions that support India’s transformation in the years ahead.

This year, the initiative broadened its horizons by including Defence and Space Tech as a new sector, recognising the crucial role these domains play in nation-building. Two special awards were also introduced for women entrepreneurs, acknowledging their rising presence and impact within the country’s startup ecosystem.

The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Architects of India’s Startup Ecosystem,” which brought together leading voices from across government, industry and venture capital. Among the speakers were Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT; Air Vice Marshal Dhananjay V. Khot (Retd.), Director–Strategy and Planning at IN-SPACe; Shashank Kumar, Founder and Managing Director of Razorpay; Gautam Mago, General Partner at A91 Partners; Vikram Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures; and Sunali Rohra, Senior Executive Vice President at HDFC Bank. Their perspectives added depth to the conversation on India’s evolving innovation landscape.

With its continued commitment to collaboration, investment and knowledge-sharing, the HDFC Bank Group reinforces its role as a key enabler for startups building India’s future. HDFC Tech Innovators 2025 stands as a testament to this vision, celebrating innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship and empowering the leaders of tomorrow.

National

Goa Shines at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, Showcasing Its Growing Innovation & Startup Ecosystem

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral National Desk

The Goa Pavilion at the 28th Edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 concluded on a high note, drawing significant attention from visitors, international delegates and industry leaders throughout the three-day event at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. More than 500 attendees visited the pavilion curated by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications of the Government of Goa, engaging deeply with the state’s digital initiatives, technology projects and startup ecosystem.

The delegation from Goa included Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Shri Subrai Nadkarni, Shri Siddharth Borker, Shri Gaurabh Sawal and Shri D. S. Prashant, who represented the state’s vision for a more connected, technology-forward future. The pavilion welcomed strong international participation with delegates from the UK, Russia, Denmark, Canada and Sweden. A special highlight was the visit from Joel Stafford, Consulate General of Denmark in Bangalore, whose interactions reinforced global interest in Goa’s digital programmes, infrastructure strengths and evolving innovation landscape.

The stall also received attention from global industry leaders exploring Goa as a potential hub for expansion. Nicolas Wojnarowski of NineSigma praised Goa’s potential as an emerging base for major science and technology collaborations, noting the state’s appeal for future development. National industry bodies, academia and ecosystem enablers including TiE Bangalore, KLE, ELCIA and IDFC engaged with the Goa delegation and discussed opportunities for collaboration.

Among the notable interactions, Rama N. S. of ELCITA shared her positive impressions, highlighting Goa’s tangible progress toward developing an electronic city and expanding beyond its identity as a leisure destination. The pavilion also drew interest from various Indian states, with visitors keen to learn about Goa’s approach to digital connectivity, governance, industrial development and its growing identity as a technology-friendly, creative destination.

Young visitors showed particularly strong enthusiasm, reflecting the rising appeal of Goa’s tech and startup culture among emerging innovators. Goan startups including Spintly and Genora Infotech showcased their solutions and attracted considerable engagement. Spintly’s Co-founder Malcolm D’Souza emphasized the importance of such platforms in giving Goa’s technology ecosystem global visibility, while Genora Infotech CEO Milind Prabhu shared his excitement about representing the state with their platform VoxIntel.

As the summit concludes, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications carries forward valuable connections that strengthen Goa’s identity as India’s Creative Capital and a rising hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven growth.

TechPulse

Children’s Day Special: How DITE&C is Empowering Goa’s Young Innovators through Digital Inclusion

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As India celebrates Children’s Day, it’s a moment to recognise the immense potential of the young generation — especially in a digital era that thrives on creativity, innovation, and access to technology. In Goa, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C) is leading this transformation, equipping children and youth with the tools and skills they need to become tomorrow’s changemakers.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Free Laptop Distribution Scheme

Recognising the importance of digital access in modern education, DITE&C launched a Free Laptop Distribution Scheme for meritorious students belonging to SC/ST communities. This initiative not only encourages academic excellence but also ensures equal opportunity for all, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to thrive in higher education.

Learning by Doing: IT Knowledge Centres Across Goa

DITE&C’s IT Knowledge Centres (ITKCs) across various talukas provide hands-on training in cutting-edge technologies like coding, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and data analytics. These centres nurture problem-solving skills and digital literacy among students, building a foundation for future-ready talent.

From Campuses to Startups: Building Young Entrepreneurs

With over 700 startups calling Goa home, innovation is already thriving among the youth. Under the Startup Policy 2025, the Campus Innovation Scheme encourages students to turn their ideas into reality by providing financial support of up to ₹50,000 for innovative projects. The goal: to build a culture of entrepreneurship and invention right from college.

Empowering Local Industry: The Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC)

To support Goa’s growing ecosystem of innovation, DITE&C has established the state’s first Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Tuem. The facility promotes localised manufacturing in electronics, drones, IoT, and cleantech, while also providing opportunities for young engineers and innovators.

Future-Ready Skills: Goa AI Mission 2027

The Goa AI Mission 2027 is shaping the state’s digital future by integrating Artificial Intelligence education into schools and colleges. Plans include the establishment of the Goa AI Academy, regular AI bootcamps, and mentorship programs designed to inspire and upskill the next generation of creators and thinkers.

Empowering Every Child, Shaping Every Future

Technology is not just a tool — it’s a gateway to imagination, learning, and empowerment. By prioritising access, innovation, and skill development, DITE&C is ensuring that every Goan child can dream big, build boldly, and contribute meaningfully to a digitally empowered Goa.

This Children’s Day, DITE&C celebrates the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and courage that defines Goa’s next generation. 🌟

Entertainment

WaveX Invites Startups to Showcase at WAVES Bazar during IFFI Goa 2025

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has officially opened registrations for WaveX booths at WAVES Bazar, the exclusive startup showcase under the WaveX initiative, to be held during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa from November 20–24, 2025.

This initiative provides emerging AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality) and Media-Tech startups with an unparalleled opportunity to connect with global industry leaders, investors, and production studios.

Located near Film Bazaar, the vibrant networking hub of IFFI, WAVES Bazar offers startups the perfect platform to present innovations and build collaborations within the creative economy.

Each startup booth, priced at ₹30,000 on a shared basis, includes:

  • 2 Delegate Passes
  • Lunch and High Tea
  • Evening Networking Opportunities
  • Direct Exposure to Global Film, Media & Tech Professionals

Limited stalls are available and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested startups can register at wavex.wavesbazaar.com or contact wavexmib[at]gov[dot]in for more details.

About IFFI, Goa:
Established in 1952, the International Film Festival of India is one of Asia’s most prestigious film festivals, drawing global participation and serving as a platform for creative collaboration. The 56th edition will run from November 20–28, 2025, in Panaji, Goa.

About WaveX:
WaveX is a national startup accelerator under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It focuses on nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation in the AVGC-XR and media-tech sectors through collaborations with academia, industry, and incubation networks — strengthening India’s creative economy.

Source: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting / WaveX Initiative