Ahmedabad, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Adani Group has selected the first cohort of innovators under its flagship entrepreneurship initiative, Vande Bharatam, following more than 26,000 applications from across India.
Launched by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, the initiative seeks to identify and support grassroots innovators and entrepreneurs developing solutions to real-world challenges and building businesses with the potential for large-scale impact.
Applications were received from every state and Union Territory, with participants proposing ideas across sectors including mobility, sustainability, technology, agriculture, defence, healthcare, manufacturing and education.
The selected innovators come from diverse regions and professional and academic backgrounds. The initiative aims to provide them with mentorship, industry expertise, networking opportunities and greater visibility to help turn promising ideas into viable enterprises.
Adani said the first cohort reflects the scale of India’s entrepreneurial and innovative talent, stressing that such talent is not restricted to major cities.
He said opportunities should be accessible to innovators across the country and expressed confidence that members of the inaugural cohort could eventually build companies capable of making a significant contribution to India’s growth.
The selection was conducted through a multi-stage evaluation process. The chosen participants will now take part in the Vande Bharatam Immersive Week, featuring mentoring sessions and interactions with business leaders, entrepreneurs and domain experts, along with further evaluation and development activities.
The initiative will culminate in the Vande Bharatam Grand Finale on August 14, when the top-performing innovators will be recognised and awarded the Vande Bharatam Trophy.
The Adani Group said Vande Bharatam is intended to evolve beyond a competition into a national platform for identifying promising ideas at an early stage and connecting innovators, particularly those outside established startup hubs, with the expertise and institutions required to scale their ventures.
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