Latest news with #ShwetaRajpalKohli
The Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- The Wire
Startup Policy Forum Launches Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) to Support India's Listed and IPO-Bound Startups
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – Business Wire India The Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an alliance of over 50 leading new-age companies, today announced the launch of the Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) — a first-of-its-kind platform to support the fast-expanding pool of listed and IPO-ready startups as they navigate the critical transition from private to public entities. SPF announced the launch of its Centre in the presence of SEBI Chairman, Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, at a high-level delegation meeting with 20 startup founders and leaders in Mumbai. India's capital markets have been consistently outperforming global indices, creating strong momentum for new-age companies to list domestically. With nearly 40 startups – collectively valued at over $90 billion – expected to go public in the near future, a structured, founder-led platform to support this wave is both timely and essential. The Centre aims to address the unique regulatory, governance, and market-readiness challenges faced by these firms, while fostering a collaborative ecosystem between new-age companies, regulators, institutional investors, stock exchanges, bankers, policymakers and other ecosystem participants. Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum said, 'India's capital markets are witnessing a structural shift, with new-age and tech-driven companies increasingly dominating IPO pipelines and investor interest. The Centre will enhance readiness and resilience of new-age companies as they enter and thrive in public markets.' Ashish Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE, said, 'The emergence of new-age companies in the public markets is a significant evolution. Initiatives like CNPC will promote better governance, transparency, and capital market preparedness while fostering trust among retail and institutional investors.' The CNPC will work across four pillars: • Advocacy: Engaging with SEBI, other regulators, policymakers, public market investors and market institutions to ensure the regulatory framework evolves in step with the needs of new-age public companies. • Capacity Building: Workshops, masterclasses, and webinars on compliance, corporate governance, investor relations and ESG best practices. • Community Engagement: Facilitating peer learning, knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and collective problem-solving among founders and CXOs of listed and soon-to-be-listed companies. • Research & Insights: Developing toolkits, policy briefs, and governance guides tailored to the specific requirements of new-age public companies. The 25-member SPF delegation that called on SEBI Chairman included Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO, Shashank Kumar, Co-founder & MD, Razorpay, Rohit Kapoor, CEO, Swiggy Food Marketplace, Ankit Fatehpuria, Co-Founder & CFO, Zetwerk, Shashank ND, Co-founder, Practo, Sanket Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, InVideo, Miten Sampat of CRED, Nischay AG, Co-founder, Jar, Ajay Lakhotia, Founder, StockGro, and senior executives from ixigo, Bluestone, Acko and Eazydiner. SPF's membership already includes several listed startups, including Swiggy, ixigo, Ather Energy, MobiKwik and Blackbuck. Many more are on the path to listing including Pine Labs, Meesho, Groww, IndiQube, Curefoods, Bluestone and Physics Wallah. About Startup Policy Forum The Startup Policy Forum is India's leading industry alliance for new-age companies, working to shape policy, amplify founder voices, and build global bridges. SPF's members include many of India's most successful and high-growth startups, collectively valued at over $90 billion. To View the Images, Click on the Links Below: Startup Policy Forum Launches Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) Startup Policy Forum Launches Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) SPF X CNPC SPF Team with SEBI (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Business Upturn
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Startup Policy Forum Launches Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) to Support India's Listed and IPO-Bound Startups
The Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an alliance of over 50+ leading new-age companies, today announced the launch of the Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) — a first-of-its-kind platform to support the fast-expanding pool of listed and IPO-ready startups as they navigate the critical transition from private to public entities. Business Wire India The Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an alliance of over 50+ leading new-age companies, today announced the launch of the Centre for New-Age Public Companies (CNPC) — a first-of-its-kind platform to support the fast-expanding pool of listed and IPO-ready startups as they navigate the critical transition from private to public entities. SPF announced the launch of its Centre in the presence of SEBI Chairman, Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, at a high-level delegation meeting with 20 startup founders and leaders in Mumbai. India's capital markets have been consistently outperforming global indices, creating strong momentum for new-age companies to list domestically. With nearly 40 startups – collectively valued at over $90 billion – expected to go public in the near future, a structured, founder-led platform to support this wave is both timely and essential. The Centre aims to address the unique regulatory, governance, and market-readiness challenges faced by these firms, while fostering a collaborative ecosystem between new-age companies, regulators, institutional investors, stock exchanges, bankers, policymakers and other ecosystem participants. Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum said, 'India's capital markets are witnessing a structural shift, with new-age and tech-driven companies increasingly dominating IPO pipelines and investor interest. The Centre will enhance readiness and resilience of new-age companies as they enter and thrive in public markets.' Ashish Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE, said, 'The emergence of new-age companies in the public markets is a significant evolution. Initiatives like CNPC will promote better governance, transparency, and capital market preparedness while fostering trust among retail and institutional investors.' The CNPC will work across four pillars: Advocacy: Engaging with SEBI, other regulators, policymakers, public market investors and market institutions to ensure the regulatory framework evolves in step with the needs of new-age public companies. Capacity Building : Workshops, masterclasses, and webinars on compliance, corporate governance, investor relations and ESG best practices. Community Engagement: Facilitating peer learning, knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and collective problem-solving among founders and CXOs of listed and soon-to-be-listed companies. Research & Insights: Developing toolkits, policy briefs, and governance guides tailored to the specific requirements of new-age public companies. The 25-member SPF delegation that called on SEBI Chairman included Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO, Shashank Kumar, Co-founder & MD, Razorpay, Rohit Kapoor, CEO, Swiggy Food Marketplace, Ankit Fatehpuria, Co-Founder & CFO, Zetwerk, Shashank ND, Co-founder, Practo, Sanket Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, InVideo, Miten Sampat of CRED, Nischay AG, Co-founder, Jar, Ajay Lakhotia, Founder, StockGro, and senior executives from ixigo, Bluestone, Acko and Eazydiner. SPF's membership already includes several listed startups, including Swiggy, ixigo, Ather Energy, MobiKwik and Blackbuck. Many more are on the path to listing including Pine Labs, Meesho, Groww, IndiQube, Curefoods, Bluestone and Physics Wallah. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. Business Upturn take no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India's billion-dollar AI blueprint: Pratilipi, Zolve, Stellaris, and Google DeepMind to unveil scaling secrets at ET Soonicorns Summit 2025
The ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 returns to Bengaluru on August 22, diving into the mission-critical AI question of scale. Here's what you need to know and why you should attend as AI leaders prepare to unveil the scale playbook. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Shally Modi, Co-founder, Pratilipi Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum Manish Gupta, Senior Director, Google DeepMind Raghunandan G, Founder, Zolve Ritesh Banglani, Co-founder & CEO, Stellaris Venture Partners Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Shally Modi, Co-founder, Pratilipi: At the helm of India's most successful vernacular content platform, Modi brings insights from scaling language-first AI in a market as complex as India. Her on-the-ground view of AI's application in storytelling, personalisation, and creator monetisation is deeply relevant as India eyes a bottom-up AI revolution. Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum: A former public policy head at global tech giants and now a policy entrepreneur, Kohli will offer a sharp, insider take on what Indian regulation gets right—and where it stifles scale. Expect her to weigh in on data localisation, AI governance, and startup compliance fatigue. Manish Gupta, Senior Director, Google DeepMind: Gupta represents the R&D depth India must build at scale. His presence adds global heft and provokes a key question: Can India build its own DeepMind—or does it need to? Raghunandan G, Founder, Zolve: Raghunandan is no stranger to scale. Having built and exited TaxiForSure, and now leading cross-border neobank Zolve, he brings a builder's clarity to a market obsessed with valuation over value. Expect grounded insight on talent models, GTM playbooks, and investor-founder alignment. Ritesh Banglani, Co-founder & CEO, Stellaris Venture Partners: One of India's most respected VCs, Banglani has backed some of the country's sharpest tech startups. His perspective on what separates an AI soonicorn from an AI statistic will likely set the tone for how capital chases capability in the years ahead. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads AI Investments in India: Chasing Hype or Backing Real Disruption? This high-stakes session features top investors such as Sanjay Swamy (Prime Venture Partners), Hemant Mohapatra (Lightspeed Ventures), and Manish Singhal (pi Ventures) debating what's real in India's AI surge—and what's just branding. This high-stakes session features top investors such as Sanjay Swamy (Prime Venture Partners), Hemant Mohapatra (Lightspeed Ventures), and Manish Singhal (pi Ventures) debating what's real in India's AI surge—and what's just branding. AI for Bharat: How Localised Data Centres Can Bridge the Digital Divide - Featuring Adarsh Natarajan (Aindra) and Ankit Bose (Nasscom), this panel focuses on India's unique advantage—solving for underserved populations using culturally and linguistically localised AI. - Featuring Adarsh Natarajan (Aindra) and Ankit Bose (Nasscom), this panel focuses on India's unique advantage—solving for underserved populations using culturally and linguistically localised AI. Can India Build Its Own ChatGPT or DeepSeek? The Agentic AI Race Is On - From to Microsoft Innovation Hub, this session convenes the core players pushing India's AGI frontier. As the world races to build agentic, self-improving AI systems, India is no longer watching from the sidelines. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword in Indian startups; it's the battleground. As billions pour into AI-first ventures and government-backed infrastructure scales up, the big question isn't whether India will play the AI game; it's how Indian startups can win 2024, Indian startups raised $30.4 billion in funding—a 6.5% dip from 2023 —according to Tracxn. Despite the decline, the ecosystem showed resilience, with new unicorns such as Rapido, Ather, Perfios, Porter, and Money View reflecting continued innovation and investor this sustained resilience, a receding funding winter, and an AI-driven momentum where Indian startups are increasingly building and leveraging AI solutions, a panel at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 will address the question every founder, investor, and policymaker is asking: What does it take to scale Indian AI startups into billion-dollar powerhouses over the next decade?Titled 'The Billion-Dollar AI Blueprint: Scaling Indian Startups in the Next Decade,' the session brings together some of the sharpest minds from product, policy, investment, and frontier AI research:The session aims to dive deep into the central question looming large over India's AI ecosystem: Can our startups scale before the window of global opportunity closes?India's startup ecosystem is entering a make-or-break moment. While the country is teeming with AI-first ventures, global scale remains elusive for most. As the US and China sprint ahead with capital, compute, and cutting-edge IP, India must confront a hard truth: innovation without scale won't cut securing long-term capital and building AI talent at scale to owning sustainable IP, expanding into global markets, and staying ahead on ethical compliance and governance, the session's premise is clear: building foundational AI is just the starting point. To lead on the global stage, Indian startups must crack the scale $11.3 billion already flowing into Indian startups in 2025 and AI policy levers moving fast, this panel aims to define the strategy behind the the power players on stage:The AI opportunity isn't just about building tools; it's about shaping a new economy. According to Statista, India's AI market is expected to hit $244.22 billion in 2025, on its way to a projected $1.01 trillion by 2031. But here's the catch: scale is not a by-product of good tech. It needs deliberate architecture—capital, compute, policy, and India's making this infrastructure aligns with startup innovation, India could unlock both domestic dominance and export this session is expected to grab headlines, it is part of a broader AI and Deep Tech Dominance track at the Soonicorns Summit 2025, each panel addressing a critical lever in India's AI playbook:The Billion-Dollar AI Blueprint panel doesn't just ask whether India can build big in AI—it asks how it can do it differently, more inclusively, and at a velocity that rewrites the a world where 99% of AI startups won't scale, this panel is a front-row seat to what the top 1% are doing right. And more importantly, what India needs to do to lead the AI age on its ET Soonicorns Summit 2025 returns to Bengaluru on August 22, bringing together unicorn and soonicorn founders, investors, policymakers, and AI leaders for a day of sharp dialogue, bold ambition, and hard questions. With the theme 'From Research Labs to Revenue Models: The Billion-Dollar Blueprint for Scaling Indian AI Startups,' this year's edition is poised to redefine what scale means in the Indian you're building, backing, or regulating India's tech future, this is where the playbook will be written.360 One Wealth is the presenting partner of the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025
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Business Standard
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India launches initiative to identify top 100 deep-tech startups
The Startup Policy Forum has launched #100DesiDeepTechs, a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at identifying and supporting 100 leading deep-tech startups in India. Developed in collaboration with Startup India (DPIIT), MEITY Startup Hub, and IIT Madras, the program seeks to strengthen policy dialogue and advance India's deep-tech ecosystem. Applications are now open for startups across India to join this exclusive cohort. Selected startups will participate in closed-door deep-tech dialogues, engaging with policymakers, investors, industry leaders, sectoral regulators, and academic and research institutions. These discussions will culminate in a comprehensive policy whitepaper outlining sector-specific challenges and regulatory recommendations to strengthen India's deep-tech ecosystem. The initiative is accepting applications from Indian deep-tech startups. Selected participants will join closed-door policy discussions with industry and government stakeholders, leading to a whitepaper with regulatory recommendations. Focus areas include semiconductors, defence, quantum tech, green hydrogen, space, drones, EVs, biotech, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and communications. A Mentor Board consisting of founders, investors, policymakers, and experts will advise the #100DesiDeepTechs cohort, providing strategic guidance and access to networks. 'Our vision is to identify, mentor, and elevate India's most promising deep-tech startups and support them with enabling policy frameworks,' said Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of the Startup Policy Forum. 'We are committed to supporting the government's initiatives to strengthen the deep-tech ecosystem, including the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and the dedicated Deep-Tech Fund of Funds—both designed to scale R&D in critical sectors.' The whitepaper will be released at 'Deeptech Baithak', a forum of founders, investors, and policymakers. The event will also mark the launch of SPF's Centre for Deep-tech Policy Research, which will support ongoing policy efforts. Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, noted that India's deep-tech capabilities are critical to the country's ambition of becoming a global innovation hub. He said, '#100DesiDeepTechs is a timely and targeted initiative that will accelerate efforts by fostering policy clarity, nurturing breakthrough ideas, and building a strong pipeline of world-class startups.' Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, added, 'Deep-tech is the next frontier of India's startup journey. Through #100DesiDeepTechs, we aim to identify and support startups at the intersection of science and scalable innovation, co-developing frameworks that serve the nation's strategic interests.' Prof. Thillai Rajan, IIT Madras, commented: "We are excited to collaborate on this national initiative that gives deep-tech startups a direct seat at the policy table. It aligns closely with our vision to advance high-impact research and industry partnerships." SPF has enlisted domain experts and will partner with deep-tech investors to execute the initiative. IIT-Madras will lead startup selection, Ikigai Law will draft the policy whitepaper, and Kaio will manage the initiative. Insights from the program will shape a policy roadmap for deep-tech innovation and market growth.
The Wire
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Wire
Startup Policy Forum Launches #100DesiDeepTechs to Shape India's DeepTech Future; Partners DPIIT, MEITY Startup Hub and IIT-Madras
Delhi, India – Business Wire India In a landmark move to accelerate India's deeptech ecosystem, Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has launched #100DesiDeepTechs — a first-of-its-kind multistakeholder initiative to identify and empower India's top 100 deeptech startups, in collaboration with Startup India - DPIIT, MEITY Startup Hub and IIT-Madras. This initiative aims to foster a robust policy dialogue and drive the nation's deeptech agenda forward. Applications are now open for startups across India to join this exclusive cohort. Selected startups will participate in closed-door deeptech dialogues, engaging with policymakers, investors, industry leaders, sectoral regulators, academic and research institutions. These discussions will culminate in a comprehensive policy whitepaper outlining sector-specific challenges and regulatory recommendations to strengthen India's deep tech ecosystem. The initiative targets startups innovating in critical deeptech domains, including Semiconductors, Defence Technologies, Quantum Technologies, Green Hydrogen, Space Technologies, Drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems, Electric Vehicles, Biotechnology, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Advanced Manufacturing, and Communications Infrastructure. To further support the cohort, a Mentor Board will be established that will be composed of founders, investors, policymakers, and technical experts to provide strategic advice, technical expertise, and access to critical networks. The whitepaper will be unveiled at 'Deeptech Baithak,' a high-profile multi-stakeholder gathering of 100 founders, leading investors, policymakers, regulators, and ecosystem enablers. The initiative will also lay the foundation for SPF's Centre for Deeptech Policy Research (CDPR) to ensure sustained policy dialogue and targeted interventions for the sector. Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum, said: '100DesiDeepTechs is our vision to identify, mentor, and elevate India's most promising deeptech startups and support them with enabling policy frameworks. We are committed to supporting the government's initiatives to strengthen the deeptech ecosystem, including the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme and the dedicated DeepTech Fund of Funds—both designed to scale R&D in critical sectors.' Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, shared: 'India's deeptech capabilities are critical to our ambition of becoming a global innovation hub. #100DesiDeepTechs is a timely and targeted initiative that will accelerate our efforts by fostering policy clarity, nurturing breakthrough ideas, and building a strong pipeline of world-class startups.' Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, added, 'Deeptech is the next frontier of India's startup journey. Through #100DesiDeepTechs, we aim to identify and support startups at the intersection of science and scalable innovation, co-developing frameworks that serve the nation's strategic interests.' Prof. Thillai Rajan, IIT Madras, commented: "We are excited to collaborate on this national initiative that gives deeptech startups a direct seat at the policy table. It aligns closely with our vision to advance high-impact research and industry partnerships." SPF has roped in several domain experts for executing the initiative and will be partnering with deeptech-focused investors over the next few weeks. The selection process will be led by IIT-Madras, the Policy Whitepaper will be drafted by SPF's knowledge partner Ikigai Law, and the initiative will be managed by policy consulting firm Kaio. Insights from the Deeptech Dialogues and Deeptech Baithak will inform a strategic policy document to foster innovation, upskilling, and market creation for deep tech in India. Apply for #100DesiDeepTechs at this link OR send an email to secretariat@ with the Subject: 100DesiDeeptechs. Applications close on 17th August, 2025. About Startup Policy Forum Startup Policy Forum (SPF) is an industry body for new-age companies representing 50 of India's largest and fastest-growing startups with a combined valuation of over $80 billion. Leading startups across diverse sectors including fintech, consumer, manufacturing, deeptech and AI are members of SPF. This includes CRED, OYO, Physics Wallah, ixigo, Cars24, Mobikwik, BharatPe, Cardekho, Groww, Zerodha, Swiggy, Razorpay, Dream11, Acko, Pine Labs, Invideo, Digantara among others. Founded and led by public policy and media professional Shweta Rajpal Kohli, SPF serves as a voice for new-age nation builders and engages in policy advocacy and community-building initiatives. It strives to position Indian startups on a global stage and promote India as an attractive investment destination by bridging the gap between founders, investors, and policymakers. To View the Image, Click on the Link Below: Startup Policy Forum Launches #100DesiDeepTechs to Shape India's DeepTech Future; Partners With DPIIT, MEITY Startup Hub and IIT-Madras. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
