Gandhinagar, 16 October 2026: Karnavati University hosted the Gandhinagar edition of the GENESIS NextGen Startup Summit on Friday, bringing together startup founders, investors, industry leaders, government officials and academicians on a common platform.
The summit focused on emerging technology opportunities, deep-tech innovation, indigenous hardware development, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, and ways to connect startups with industry and investment opportunities.
The event was organized by Karnavati University and Karnavati Innovation and Incubation Foundation (KIIF) in collaboration with the MeitY Startup Hub, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Various stakeholders from the startup ecosystem participated in discussions on the challenges and opportunities involved in developing and scaling technology-driven businesses.
The programme featured startup exhibitions, expert sessions, panel discussions and GENESIS Idea World, a platform for innovators to showcase their ideas through poster presentations. These activities provided startups and innovators with opportunities to present their ideas, demonstrate their solutions and interact with industry representatives and potential investors.
Mukesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Education Department, attended the event as the Chief Guest. R. D. Barhat, Joint Commissioner, Industries Department, spoke on Gujarat’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem under the theme “Startup Gujarat.” Dr. Panirselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, shared insights on the GENESIS initiative and the role of MeitY Startup Hub in supporting startups.
Speaking about the summit, Ritesh Hada, President of Karnavati University, said that transforming technology-driven startups into successful and viable businesses requires more than just an idea. It also requires industry knowledge, appropriate mentorship, access to investment opportunities and an understanding of market requirements. He said platforms such as GENESIS provide innovators with an opportunity to showcase their work and understand how their ideas can address real-world needs. He added that Karnavati University views such interactions as an important link between education, research and entrepreneurship.
The sessions also covered Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), commercial applications and commercialization-related issues. Discussions were also held on UIDAI’s SITAA initiative and its role in encouraging innovation in identity technology.
Two panel discussions explored the potential of India’s hardware and semiconductor manufacturing sector, along with opportunities to expand Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep-tech innovation beyond established startup hubs.
The summit also featured a fireside chat with Hanni Bhagchandani, Founder of Torch IT, on the theme “From Ideas to Impact.” Selected startups presented their business proposals before an investor jury, giving them an opportunity to engage with potential investors.
Through KIIF, Karnavati University supports aspiring entrepreneurs and technology-driven startups through incubation, mentorship, prototype development assistance, funding connections and market access. Its collaboration with MeitY Startup Hub through the GENESIS initiative provides innovators with another platform to connect with industry expertise and potential investment opportunities.
The Gandhinagar edition of the summit placed particular emphasis on collaboration to help startups understand industry requirements, develop market-ready solutions and identify pathways for growth.
