Ahmedabad: Marking his 64th birthday, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, has launched Vande Bharatam, a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying and supporting innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers from across India.
The Vande Bharatam programme is designed to reach all 36 States and Union Territories, covering more than 800 districts and engaging participants across multiple Indian languages.
Open to individuals of all ages and backgrounds, the initiative seeks to bring promising ideas and entrepreneurial talent from beyond India’s traditional start-up hubs onto a national platform.
India today ranks among the world’s leading start-up ecosystems. However, more than 80 per cent of start-up founders continue to emerge from just five cities, leaving many aspiring innovators without access to visibility, mentorship and professional networks.
Through Vande Bharatam, the initiative aims to bridge this gap by expanding access to opportunities. From metropolitan centres and emerging urban clusters to small towns and rural communities, the programme will identify individuals with ideas, solutions and enterprises capable of generating economic and social impact.
As India moves towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, broader participation in entrepreneurship and innovation is expected to play a crucial role in driving economic growth, creating employment and addressing local challenges.
The Vande Bharatam initiative is open to anyone with an idea, innovation, solution or entrepreneurial ambition, irrespective of age, profession, educational qualifications or stage of development.
Participants may submit concepts, prototypes, early-stage ventures or established businesses. Registration as a start-up is not mandatory.
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Applications are being invited from diverse sectors, including technology, manufacturing, sustainability, agriculture, traditional crafts and community-led solutions.
Dedicated pathways will also encourage participation from women entrepreneurs, tribal entrepreneurs, rural innovators, Divyang entrepreneurs and community-based innovators working to solve local challenges.
Applications submitted under Vande Bharatam will undergo a structured evaluation process focusing on innovation, entrepreneurial potential, impact and scalability.
Further details related to assessment criteria, jury composition and selection stages will be announced subsequently.
Following state and regional evaluations, 75 finalists will be invited to Ahmedabad for an intensive programme featuring mentorship, industry interactions and engagement with investors and business leaders.
The finalists will represent a diverse cross-section of talent from different regions, sectors and communities.
Launching the initiative, Gautam Adani said: “When I began my journey, I had nothing. Everything I am and everything I have achieved was given to me by the soil of Bharat. There is no shortage of talent in our nation, but opportunity has not always reached every corner of the country.
India has built one of the world’s largest start-up ecosystems, yet most founders still emerge from a handful of cities. Vande Bharatam is our effort to discover the innovators, problem-solvers and entrepreneurs whose ideas deserve recognition, support and a larger platform. We invite every Indian with the courage to build and the determination to create to come forward and participate.”
Finalists selected through Vande Bharatam will gain access to mentors, investors, industry leaders, incubation support and strategic partnerships aimed at helping transform ideas into enterprises.
The programme will also offer prize money and category-based recognitions, details of which will be announced at a later stage.
The Grand Finale, scheduled around Independence Day, will mark the beginning of an ongoing engagement platform connecting participants with mentors, investors, industry leaders and fellow innovators.
“If I can do it, any Indian can do it. All they need is an opportunity and a stage,” Mr Adani added.
With outreach extending across every State and Union Territory, more than 800 districts and the global Indian diaspora, Vande Bharatam aims to emerge as one of India’s broadest platforms for entrepreneurial discovery and innovation.
Applications for Vande Bharatam opened on June 24 through the official platform, vandebharatam.org.
