Nagpur, June 1, 2025 — In a significant step toward strengthening India’s startup and incubation ecosystem, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister, unveiled the “Startup Connext: Incubators Roundtable” report during the “Advantage Vidarbha 2025 Report” ceremony in Nagpur.
The report is a result of the Incubators Roundtable Meet organized by Easy Knowledge Club in association with VNIT, and held under the guidance of Shri Shashikant Chaudhary at IIM Nagpur as part of the Advantage Vidarbha 2025 initiative.
Held on February 7, 2025, the roundtable brought together 30 prominent incubator leaders and ecosystem stakeholders from across India, fostering deep dialogue on pressing issues such as:
- Standardization of Startup Support SOPs
- Building Effective Mentorship Models
- Improving Access to Startup Funding
- Promoting Rural Innovation
- Strengthening Academia-Industry Collaboration
The report outlines key strategic initiatives to accelerate startup growth and regional innovation:
- National Incubator Collaboration Platform (NICP): A unified network for knowledge sharing and co-incubation.
- Standardized Startup Evaluation Framework: To streamline and benchmark incubation practices.
- Mentor Access & Training Hub (MATH): To expand the pool and quality of mentors across the country.
- Dedicated Rural Startups Fund (RSF): Specifically targeting underserved regions like Vidarbha to encourage grassroots innovation.
Shri Shashikant Chaudhary, a key driving force behind the initiative, emphasized the importance of regionalized approaches: “We must go beyond infrastructure and build localized success stories. Regions like Vidarbha shouldn’t replicate metros—they should create their own authentic, resilient ecosystems. This report reflects our commitment to value-driven entrepreneurship, not just opportunistic grant-seeking.”
The roundtable was moderated by Mr. Amit Singal, Co-Founder of Easy Knowledge Club, who ensured focused discussions and practical outcomes: “Our aim was to leave incubators with clear, actionable strategies—be it standard operating procedures, evaluation metrics, or stronger academic linkages. Faculty development, in particular, is crucial for nurturing innovation among students. Educational institutions must evolve into startup launchpads.”
The “Startup Connext” report serves as a comprehensive roadmap for incubators, ecosystem builders, and policymakers. It advocates collaborative efforts, policy alignment, and targeted regional interventions to transform emerging regions like Vidarbha into thriving startup hubs.
Ms. Rakhee Singal, Co-Founder of Easy Knowledge Club, announced plans to scale the initiative nationwide: “We are planning similar roundtables across the country to strengthen the national startup ecosystem. The enthusiastic support from the government has been incredibly encouraging.”
With committed follow-through, the recommendations from the Startup Connext report have the potential to catalyze sustainable entrepreneurship and economic development from the ground up.
