From 26,000+ entries, Gautam Adani's 'Vande Bharatam' selects first cohorts
Ahmedabad, August 8
'Vande Bharatam', the grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship initiative launched by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, has selected its inaugural cohort from more than 26,000 applications across India.
According to a release, Vande Bharatam received applications from every State and Union Territory, with ideas spanning mobility, sustainability, technology, agriculture, defence, healthcare, manufacturing, education and other sectors. The cohort brings together innovators from varied regions, disciplines and backgrounds, united by the ambition to solve the nation's problems, build nation-building enterprises and create nationwide impact.
Created on the premise that talent is everywhere, even when opportunity is not, Vande Bharatam aims to connect promising innovators with top mentors, industry leaders, visibility and opportunities, to turn ideas into meaningful enterprises. The initiative is built on Gautam Adani's deeply held belief in giving back to the country that gave him the opportunity to dream, build and grow, and in creating pathways for others to do the same, the release said.
Speaking on the launch of the first cohort, Gautam Adani said: "When I look at these innovators, I see the possibilities of tomorrow's Bharat. Talent has no city limits, and opportunity should not have them either. Years from now, I hope we will look back at this first cohort and see among them the founders and innovators who went on to build enterprises that transformed Bharat. This is their initial chapter. And it is Vande Bharatam's first chapter too."
Selected through a multi-stage evaluation process, the first cohort will take part in Vande Bharatam Immersive Week, featuring mentorship sessions, interactions with business leaders, entrepreneurs and experts, and successive rounds of evaluation. The program will culminate in the Vande Bharatam Grand Finale on August 14, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and presented with the Vande Bharatam Trophy.
Vande Bharatam is designed as more than a competition. Its longer-term ambition is to build a national platform that discovers ideas earlier and gives innovators beyond India's traditional entrepreneurial centres access to people and institutions that can accelerate their journeys.
The release said that Vande Bharatam is a nationwide grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship initiative launched by Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. The initiative identifies promising innovators across India and connects them with mentorship, industry access, visibility and opportunities to build meaningful nation-building enterprises. The initiative is rooted in the belief that talent knows no geography and that transformative ideas can emerge from any part of Bharat.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally someone is looking beyond the metros. Most of our innovators from small towns never get this kind of platform. Kudos to Adani ji for thinking about Bharat, not just India's cities.
Impressive scale. But I hope the selection process is truly merit-based and transparent. The proof will be in the enterprises these innovators actually build, not just the event publicity.
This is exactly what we need - more private sector initiatives to complement government schemes. The fact that they got 26,000 entries shows the hunger for opportunity in this country. Great move Adani Group!
As someone from a small town in UP, I know how hard it is to get your idea noticed without connections. This initiative gives hope to thousands like me. The immersive week sounds like a game-changer for these innovators.
Admirable vision by Gautam Adani. But I hope the long-term platform doesn't become just a one-time PR exercise. Real impact will require sustained commitment to these innovators beyond the finale. Let's see how the journey unfolds.
Defence, agriculture, sustainability - these are the sectors that will define our future. The breadth of ideas is impressive. This is the kind of nation-building our private sector should be doing more of. 🙌
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