Pune: Udyami Awards 2026 marked a significant celebration of grassroots entrepreneurship and wealth creation as 350 entrepreneurs from across Maharashtra were felicitated at Buntara Bhavan, Baner, Pune.
The Udyami Awards 2026 recognised business owners who have built sustainable and revenue-generating enterprises, underscoring the growing momentum of first-generation entrepreneurs across towns and districts in Maharashtra.
Multiple Achievement Categories Recognised
At the Udyami Awards 2026, honours were presented across several achievement categories including Hall of Fame, Udyami Lakhpati, Udyami Dashlakhpati, Udyami Crorepati, Udyami Warrior, and Udyami Game Changer. The awards were presented by Dr Omkaar Hari Maali and Aakankssha Omkaar Maali.
A major highlight of the Udyami Awards 2026 evening was the Crorepati Felicitation Ceremony, celebrating entrepreneurs who have crossed significant revenue benchmarks.
The segment symbolised the emergence of a new generation of Marathi wealth creators who are scaling businesses across sectors.
Addressing the gathering at the Udyami Awards 2026, Dr Omkaar Hari Maali emphasised the role of entrepreneurship in economic empowerment and job creation.
“Entrepreneurship is no longer limited to metropolitan cities. Today, entrepreneurs from towns and districts across Maharashtra are building global businesses and contributing meaningfully to the nation’s economy. I am so proud of all the entrepreneurs who have built businesses ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹50 crore in turnover — many of them, starting with zero prior experience.”
Adding industry perspective to the Udyami Awards 2026, Hanmantrao Gaikwad, Chairman and Managing Director of BVG Group, attended as the Special Speaker. He shared insights on enterprise growth and nation-building through entrepreneurship.
The Udyami Awards 2026 also witnessed key announcements aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Maharashtra. These included the launch of 24 chapters of the Federation of Marathi Entrepreneurs, designed to build a structured statewide business network.
Another major initiative unveiled during the Udyami Awards 2026 was Maharashtra Connect, a platform focused on enabling collaboration, mentorship, and market access for emerging business owners.
Udyami Awards 2026: Book Launch and New Announcements
During the Udyami Awards 2026 ceremony, Dr Omkaar Hari Maali launched his upcoming book Marathi te Millionaire, featuring 51 entrepreneurial success stories. The book was unveiled in the presence of Hanmantrao Gaikwad, his parents, and senior leaders of Udyami Maharashtra including co-founder Aakankssha Omkaar Maali, CEO Dolly Ritesh Dave, and CTO Shivam Thakur.
The Udyami Awards 2026 event was also marked by the unveiling of a new movie banner, signalling the movement’s expanding focus on education, inspiration, and storytelling within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Building an Entrepreneurial Movement
Dr Omkaar Hari Maali founded Udyami Maharashtra in 2020 as a movement dedicated to empowering Marathi entrepreneurs in the import-export sector.
Since its inception, the initiative has trained over 10,000 youth, enabling many to establish businesses across Maharashtra and international markets including Dubai, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.
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Beyond training, the movement supports entrepreneurs in setting up export businesses with mentorship and operational guidance. It also conducts vocational programmes for women and export training for manufacturing units across the state.
Its initiatives have strengthened market access for farmers and small businesses, facilitated exports generating significant economic value, and led to the establishment of India’s first import-export cooperative society.
Guided by the inclusive principle of “To Feed All,” inspired by the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Omkaar Hari Maali continues to promote entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic self-reliance across Maharashtra.
Over the years, the Udyami Awards 2026 platform has emerged as a prominent forum recognising business achievement within Maharashtra’s regional entrepreneurial ecosystem while encouraging first-generation entrepreneurs to scale sustainable enterprises.
