Poddar Group of Institutions and the Federation of Unicorn Innovative Startups & Industries (FUISI) successfully organised Innofest India 3.0, Rajasthan’s largest entrepreneurship summit, on 30 September and 1 October 2026 at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Jaipur. With the theme “Creating Job Creators,” the two-day summit brought together startup founders, investors, industrialists, corporate leaders, researchers, academicians, students, incubators, and international delegates to create meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation, investment, and business collaboration. The event witnessed participation from 400+ startup founders, 200+ corporate and industry representatives, 50+ investors and venture capitalists, 250+ researchers and innovators, 80+ academicians, and representatives from 20+ incubation and innovation centres. With over 2,000 startup registrations and applications, 100+ startups showcasing their innovations, and more than 6,000 visitors, participants, and delegates, Innofest India 3.0 emerged as a vibrant platform connecting emerging businesses with industry expertise, investment opportunities, and wider entrepreneurial networks.
The two-day summit featured Signature Talks, Panel Discussions, Industry Dialogues, an exclusive Shark Tank House, the 10-Minute Millionaire Challenge, the India–Global Business Dialogue, Government Schemes & Policy Connect, technology sessions, Navachar – Student Innovation & Exhibition, and the Global Innovation Awards. The sessions brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts who shared valuable perspectives on business growth, leadership, innovation, emerging technologies, and the challenges of building sustainable ventures. The Shark Tank House provided a platform for founders to present their business ideas, share their entrepreneurial journeys, and interact directly with investors and industry professionals. Participating ventures included Marbleous, founded by Ms. Ayushi Sharma; Kavi The Poetry-Art Project, co-founded by Ms. Madhuri Balodi; Urbanwipe, co-founded by Mr. Rajat Mathur; Shyle, co-founded by Mr. Radhesh Sirohiya; and Miss CheeseCake, co-founded by Mr. Narpat Singh Rathore and Ms. Pooja Balani. These interactions highlighted the importance of innovation, resilience, market understanding, and strategic investment in building and scaling successful businesses.
The main flagship event, the “10-Minute Millionaire Challenge,” connected promising startups with a distinguished panel of investors, venture capitalists, and angel investors through a direct pitching and investment platform. The challenge resulted in ₹5.25 crore in on-the-spot funding disbursed or committed across 15 selected startups, while also creating a future investment pipeline exceeding ₹10 crore. This initiative strengthened the summit’s focus on helping early-stage ventures access capital, establish investor connections, and explore opportunities for expansion. The event also promoted international collaboration through the India–Global Business Dialogue, with engagement involving innovation ecosystems in South Korea, Austria, Japan, and France. A Memorandum of Understanding with Ms. Mahima Jinah Kim, Founder and Managing Partner of Unicorn Incubator, South Korea, marked an important step towards strengthening cross-border entrepreneurial cooperation and expanding opportunities for startups to connect with international innovation networks. The partnership with Laghu Udyog Bharati further supported the development of MSMEs through technological innovation, manufacturing advancement, digital automation, and skill development.
Government Schemes & Policy Connect provided entrepreneurs and MSMEs with insights into government support mechanisms, industrial policies, and institutional opportunities. Shri P. N. Sharma, Additional Commissioner, Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Rajasthan, shared perspectives on state industrial policies and ease of doing business, while Mr. Amit Kirdoliya, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, highlighted opportunities in agri-rural innovation, rural entrepreneurship, financial awareness, and grassroots business development. The summit also featured technology sessions on Microsoft Cloud, Generative AI, and AWS Cloud, offering participants exposure to emerging technologies and their applications across industries. Through Navachar - Student Innovation & Exhibition, young innovators showcased ideas, products, and solutions, encouraging students to explore entrepreneurship and develop practical approaches to real-world challenges. The Global Innovation Awards recognised achievements across sectors and celebrated contributions to innovation, enterprise, and entrepreneurial excellence.
Innofest India 3.0 further strengthened its commitment to long-term startup development with the launch of a Mentoring and Accelerator Programme aimed at supporting and scaling more than 10,000 startups over the coming year. During the summit, 50+ startups received mentoring support, while 15+ startups were identified for structured accelerator support. By bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, policymakers, academic institutions, and international partners, the event created new avenues for networking, collaboration, funding, and knowledge exchange. Overall, Innofest India 3.0 reinforced its vision of building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem, empowering emerging businesses, encouraging innovation, and creating new pathways for the next generation of job creators.
