Jaipur to host a two-day founder-first platform connecting startups with investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and global business networks

Building a startup is about more than having a good idea. The journey from an idea to a scalable business requires access to capital, mentorship, industry networks, market opportunities and the right conversations.

This is the space that INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 is designed to create.

Presented by FUISI in association with Poddar Group of Institutions, the two-day startup and innovation festival will take place on 30 September and 1 October 2026 at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur. With its central theme, “Creating Job Creators", the event brings together startups, investors, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, MSMEs, policymakers, students and international business representatives.

Beyond Networking: Building Meaningful Connections

Startup events often bring people into the same room. INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 is structured around what those connections can lead to.

The festival will create opportunities for founders to interact with investors, explore business partnerships, receive industry feedback and understand pathways for scaling their ventures.

A dedicated B2B Networking platform will connect startups and MSMEs with foreign delegates, industrialists and established business houses, creating opportunities to explore international markets, collaborations, joint ventures and other business possibilities.

For entrepreneurs looking beyond the domestic market, such interactions can provide a starting point for understanding new markets and building cross-border relationships.

When Funding Meets the Founder

One of the key features of INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 is the 10 Minutes Millionaire Challenge, where selected startups will get an opportunity to pitch directly to investors.

The format is straightforward: one pitch, one opportunity and a chance to pursue funding in front of investors.

The event is expected to bring together 30+ investors and VCs, with selected startups pitching live at the Rajasthan International Centre. The investor lineup includes professionals from investment firms, venture capital networks, angel investing and startup incubation.

This creates a setting where founders can move beyond simply presenting their businesses and engage directly with people involved in investment decisions.

From Startup Ideas to Industry Feedback

Funding is only one part of building a successful business.

On 1 October, the Aspiring Startups & Industry Dialogue will give early-stage entrepreneurs and aspiring founders an opportunity to present their ideas directly to industry professionals.

The session is designed around validation, feedback and mentorship, with live pitches from selected startups and participation from industry members.

For founders who are still refining their product, business model or market approach, direct conversations with experienced industry professionals can offer perspectives that are difficult to gain from working in isolation.

Bringing Policy Closer to Entrepreneurs

Another important component of the festival is the Government Schemes & Policy Connect, focused on MSMEs and startups.

Representatives associated with organisations including MeitY, DST, SIDBI, NABARD and the Industries Department, Government of Rajasthan, are part of the scheduled programme.

The session creates a space for entrepreneurs to understand government schemes, policy opportunities and institutional support available to businesses.

For emerging businesses, understanding the ecosystem around them can be just as important as understanding their own market.

A Global Window for Indian Businesses

INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 also places emphasis on international business connections.

The India–Global Business Dialogue will bring together Indian startups and MSMEs with international representatives, including participants connected with South Korea and Austria, to discuss opportunities for accessing global markets and building international relationships.

The focus is not simply on international visibility but on creating conversations around how Indian businesses can explore markets, partnerships and collaborations beyond India.

Conversations with Leaders Who Have Built at Scale

The festival's Signature Talks will bring experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders into direct conversations with the audience.

The current lineup includes names such as Srikanth Bolla, Chairman of Bollant Industries; Rajiv Kumar Gupta, President of PB Fintech Ltd.; Rajendran Dandapani, Director at Zoho Corporation; Shilpy Kochhar; and Abhinandan Singh, among others.

Rather than limiting these sessions to conventional keynote speeches, the programme includes one-on-one conversations designed to explore entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and business growth.

Shark Tank Startups Meet the Next Generation of Founders

The Shark Tank House adds another dimension to the festival by bringing startup founders who have appeared on the popular entrepreneurial platform into a panel discussion.

The session features entrepreneurs including Rajat Mathur of UrbanWipe, Ayushi Sharma of Marbleous, Madhuri Balodi of Kavi The Poetry-Art Project and Radhesh Sirohiya of Shyle.

For aspiring entrepreneurs and students, such conversations can offer a closer look at the realities of building and presenting a business.

Recognising Innovation, Not Just Ideas

INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 will also recognise startups and businesses through its Global Innovation Awards, celebrating organisations and founders working across innovative products, services, technologies and business models.

The awards are designed to bring visibility to businesses that are creating measurable value through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Why “Creating Job Creators” Matters

The central idea behind INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 is captured in three words: Creating Job Creators.

India's entrepreneurial ecosystem is increasingly shaped not only by the number of startups being founded but also by the ability of those businesses to build sustainable organisations, solve real problems and create opportunities for others.

That makes the conversation around entrepreneurship broader than startup funding alone.

It is about creating businesses that can grow, employ, innovate, collaborate and contribute to the economy.

Two Days. Multiple Pathways.

Across 30 September and 1 October, INNOFEST INDIA 3.0 will bring together multiple parts of the entrepreneurial ecosystem under one platform, from signature conversations and investor pitching to government-policy discussions, global business networking, startup-industry dialogues and innovation recognition.

The festival is being organised by FUISI in collaboration with Poddar Group of Institutions, with the larger objective of creating meaningful connections between people who have ideas and the people, institutions and markets that can help those ideas move forward.

As Jaipur prepares to host the third edition of INNOFEST INDIA, the focus is clear: not just celebrating entrepreneurship, but creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs to build, connect and grow.

Event Details

Event: INNOFEST INDIA 3.0
Theme: Creating Job Creators
Dates: 30 September & 1 October 2026
Venue: Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur
Presented by: FUISI in association with Poddar Group of Institutions
Focus: Startups, Investment, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, MSMEs, Technology & Global Business