Author: Team

TiE Delhi-NCR Celebrates Indicorn Momentum: Region Leads with 51 High-Revenue Startups

Gurugram, 3 May, 2025: India Internet Day (iDay), India’s definitive startup event for tech entrepreneurs hosted by TiE Delhi-NCR at The Leela Ambience, concluded today, marking a high point in redefining India’s position as a rising global digital power. In its 14th edition, the event brought together more than 1,200 attendees, 60+ investors, over 50 speakers, and 40+ partners, alongside policymakers and industry leaders. The focus was on driving collaboration to propel India toward its predicted $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.

India’s digital economy is expanding at double the pace of overall GDP growth, with projections showing it will contribute to one-fifth of national GDP by 2029. By 2025, India’s internet user base is expected to cross 900 million, with rural adoption playing a significant role in driving growth. Event sessions discussed how this momentum creates a fertile ground for startups, digital platforms, and tech ventures to scale, positioning India as a leader in the global tech landscape.

Opening the conversation on India’s policy environment shaping the future of the digital economy, Dr Abhijit Phukon, Economic Adviser, Department of Financial Services, Government of India, stated, “As innovation evolves rapidly, our regulatory approach must be equally adaptive and predictive. The goal is to ensure that digital and financial ecosystems remain secure while enabling innovation to thrive. A balanced regulatory environment builds trust, protects consumers, and allows startups to grow responsibly. The government remains deeply committed to collaborating with industry to strike that balance and drive inclusive digital growth.”

“India Internet Day 2025 reaffirmed its role as the crucible where India’s digital doctrine is not just discussed—but actively redefined,” said Upasana Sharma,

Executive Director, TiE Delhi-NCR. “With over 1,200 attendees, 60+ investors, and 50+ speakers, the event became a high-voltage hub for bold ideas on artificial intelligence, startup scaling, and Bharat’s digital acceleration. At a time when India is poised to lead the global AI revolution, iDay provided a critical platform for innovators, policymakers, and technologists to converge. The space tech session led by IN-SPACe was particularly electric—signaling India’s next leap into frontier technologies and deeptech. Events like iDay are no longer just conferences; they are launchpads for India’s tech-powered future.”

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO, One97 and Paytm, joined a discussion on “Keynote – Dreaming Big, Building Bold: India’s Road to Tech Superpower.” Vijay compared the 2014 era of startup funding to “crossing flyovers in Delhi’s Outer Ring Road.” He explained, “The first flyover you cross is angel funding. For the second flyover, there’s no series A funding because all are tourist VCs. At that time, VCs were opening a few bases in India. Now, Outer Ring Road has all the flyovers. I think funding in India is not that big of a problem. Now, investors will value you if you are building for India in India.”

On AI, he noted, “So it is my reading that currently we consider AI as an agent, saathi, or assistant for us. I’ve started using it for many deep insights. But actually, after a few days, we will be the agents of AI. It will no longer be just an agent to us.”

iDay 2025 became a crucial platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their tech-driven startups. The event focused on cutting-edge topics such as AI, 5G, fintech, digital public infrastructure, e-commerce, space tech, startups, policies, smart cities, and regional internet trends. Experts discussed how these technologies are creating opportunities for businesses to accelerate and how government initiatives, like the Digital India Programme, are facilitating growth. These initiatives aim to position India as a digital superpower by 2030.

At iDay 2025, transformative sessions inspired the ecosystem—Col Sanjeev Yadav, Director, UIDAI, explored how Aadhaar authentication can power startup innovation, while Air Vice Marshal Retd. Dhananjay V Khot, AVSM, VM; Director, Strategy and Planning, IN-SPACe, highlighted India’s bold leap into the spacetech frontier.

The event also highlighted India’s digital economy growth, the expansion of internet connectivity, and how AI is shaping industries such as healthcare, agriculture, and innovation. Experts discussed how other open tech frameworks are reshaping India’s digital landscape, empowering startups to scale while improving access to services for underserved communities.

With indicorns on the rise, Kunal Bahl, Co-Founder, Titan Capital and Snapdeal, joined the discussion on “Indicorns: Building India’s Enduring Startup Foundation—Release of India’s Indicorn List 2025.” Kunal shared, “India’s startup engine is thriving. 202 Indicorns with over ₹1.5 lakh crore in revenue and ₹7,393 crore in profits prove that building profit-first businesses at scale is not only possible but already happening. With 51 Indicorns, Delhi-NCR is leading the charge, powering jobs, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

Delhi-NCR Tops the Charts with 51 Indicorns as India’s Profit-First Startups Cross ₹1.5 Lakh Crore in Revenue

Indicorn—a Titan Capital initiative—highlights the rise of 202 “Indicorns,” or Indian startups with over ₹100 crore in annual revenue. Together, these companies generated ₹1,51,137 crore in revenue and ₹7,393 crore in profits while employing over 1.46 lakh people. Delhi-NCR leads the pack with 51 Indicorns, followed by Bengaluru (42) and Mumbai (35), reinforcing India’s shift toward scalable, profit-driven entrepreneurship.

The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including event co-chairs Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO, Leverage Edu; Apurva Chamaria, Global Head, VC and Startup Partnerships, Google; and Upasana Taku, Co-Founder and CEO, MobiKwik; alongside industry leaders such as Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO, Startup Policy Forum; Akshat Babbar, Managing Director, ChrysCapital; Shantanu Deshpande, Founder and CEO, Bombay Shaving Company; Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder, One97 and Paytm; and Ankur Warikoo, Founder, WebVeda. These leaders shared their insights through fireside chats, panel discussions, and keynote speeches.

iDay 2025 facilitated unparalleled networking opportunities, connecting entrepreneurs with decision-makers and fostering collaborations that will drive future innovation. The discussions equipped attendees with the knowledge needed to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.

Havas Media Network India served as the Silver Partner to this milestone event. Spotlighting the importance of iDay and its association with the Indian startup ecosystem, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, said, “At Havas Media Network India, we take great pride in our consistent partnership with TiE, which continues to be a powerful force in shaping India’s startup ecosystem. iDay2025 brought together some of the most inspiring minds driving innovation and transformation. As champions of meaningful brands, we are committed to being enablers in this journey of entrepreneurial growth and digital progress.” TiE Delhi-NCR remains committed to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering innovation within India’s rapidly growing digital economy. iDay 2025 served as a milestone in this journey, laying the foundation for India to not only participate but also lead the global tech narrative.

Tres 2025 Reinforces Indias Role in Global Boutique and Mindful Luxury Travel

Delhi, May 3, 2025 – The sixth edition of Très, South Asia’s premier boutique travel showcase, concluded successfully at Andaz Delhi on May 2. Spanning two days, Très 2025 featured over 80 boutique hotels, retreats, lodges, camps, and innovative travel concepts rooted in luxury and mindful tourism experiences across the subcontinent.

The event attracted more than 60 overseas travel operators from key markets, including the UK, France, Australia, the US, and Germany, alongside over 100 Indian travel companies from across the nation.

This year, the event was proudly supported by Gujarat Tourism and its Heritage Tourism Association as the Principal Sponsor, with Uttar Pradesh Tourism serving as the Lead Sponsor. Additional support came from Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Rajasthan Tourism, all receiving enthusiastic appreciation from both the domestic and international travel trades, as well as the boutique hospitality community.

“We believe the subcontinent is a premier global destination for leisure, luxury, and inspirational travel, distinguished by its unique diversity and transformative experiences. Très serves as an ideal platform to showcase these exceptional travel offerings. We are immensely grateful to our lead sponsors for their significant support, which has been a tremendous source of motivation for all involved,” said Sowmya R Vijaymohan, Director of Très.

The guiding vision of Très is to connect a select group of meticulously curated properties and travel experience providers with a precisely targeted audience of tour operators and travel facilitators. This collaboration aims to stimulate travel within India as well as neighboring regions like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, fostering broad and sustainable industry growth. Unlike traditional trade shows, Très facilitates bespoke, one-on-one appointments between buyers and sellers tailored to business interests, strengthening partnerships and exploring new markets for positive business opportunities.

The Très 2025 exhibitors, ranging from boutique properties to historic forts and palaces, wildlife lodges, wellness retreats, private villas, and glamping sites, share a unifying philosophy built on a concept-driven approach that celebrates the unique stories and identities behind each property. Every exhibitor is committed to offering personalized, immersive hospitality experiences while remaining mindful of their environmental impact and local communities.

Adding to the event’s value, Très Ignite sessions led by travel, destination, and industry experts addressed relevant topics shaping the region’s travel landscape. Discussions included “Kerala’s Earthlore, Lorekeepers & More!”, an insightful conversation with Gujarat Tourism’s Heritage Tourism Association, a panel exploring responsible and sustainable tourism through “Tourism at Crossroads”, and a vital discussion on “Preserving Heritage & Promoting Indigenous Communities” featuring Dr. Madan Meena, artist, writer and researcher  and Sapna Bhatia, owner of Kaner Retreat.

Coca-Cola Showcases Foodmarks 2.0 Innovation at NRAI Food Delivery Summit

Bengaluru, 03 May 2025: Coca-Cola India announced its partnership with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) at the 4th Edition of the NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2025, held at Le Meridien, New Delhi. This collaboration marks the official launch of Coca-Cola Foodmarks 2.0, an initiative that celebrates India’s most iconic culinary destinations. Each foodmark spotlights places where the perfect meal, the perfect moment, and an ice-cold Coca-Cola come together to create unforgettable food landmarks.

Inspired by culture and powered by the Real Magic of Coca-Cola, Foodmarks 2.0 is built on the successful collaborations with legendary establishments like Paradise in Hyderabad and Embassy in Delhi’s Connaught Place. Creating moments of connection, culture, and refreshment, Coca-Cola and NRAI are scaling the program to new heights by collaborating with India’s most loved restaurants to drive culinary discovery and enrich India’s food culture. This initiative not only strengthens industry partnerships but also opens new avenues for restaurants to become part of India’s evolving cultural narrative.

Abhishek Gupta, Chief Customer Officer, Coca-Cola India said “This partnership with NRAI reflects our commitment to building platforms that drive growth for India’s restaurant industry. Foodmarks 2.0 turns iconic dining experiences into cultural destinations, fueled by the Real Magic of connection and discovery. At the core of every Foodmark is the simple pleasure of a hot meal, shared with an ice-cold Coca-Cola. Together, we are creating new opportunities for restaurants to become landmarks in India’s culinary landscape.”

Sagar Daryani, President NRAI & CEO & Co-Founder, Wow! Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd. said, ” Restaurants have always taken pride in their recipes, their stories, and their journeys. But in today’s world, excellence alone isn’t enough, discovery matters just as much. Coca-Cola Foodmarks addresses this opportunity by celebrating what makes each restaurant special and bringing it to the forefront. Given its global success, we believe India’s diversity of cuisines makes Foodmarks an even stronger fit, delivering authentic content and real visibility for the industry.”

With Foodmarks 2.0, Coca-Cola India and NRAI are ushering in a new chapter in India’s food culture. By uniting the country’s diverse flavors with an ice-cold Coca-Cola, the initiative is set to create lasting food landmarks that resonate with people. As the program expands, it will continue to strengthen the connection between people, food, and shared moments of Real Magic — one Foodmark at a time.

BOI Signs MoU with Sa Dhan to Boost Micro and Women Led Enterprise Financing

Chandigarh, May 03, 2025: Bank of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sa-Dhan, an RBI-appointed self-regulatory for microfinance and impact finance institutions, to enhance financing access for small, micro and women-led enterprises. The two organisations will collaborate to achieve key National Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The MoU is a non-commercial arrangement outlining key areas of collaboration, including enterprise finance for SHGs and non-SHG members, climate-resilient technologies and green financing, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) financing, co-lending to MFIs, digital transformation and technology adoption, and, most importantly, financial literacy and awareness of government schemes.

The MoU aims to enhance collaboration with microfinance institutions to provide affordable, flexible financing to underserved communities, particularly women entrepreneurs. Loan disbursement and monitoring will be enabled through digital platforms. Bank of India and Sa-Dhan will drive initiatives to raise awareness of government schemes, financial services, and social security programmes among rural entrepreneurs.

Bank of India Executive Director P.R. Rajagopal said, “BOI’s partnership with Sa-Dhan will strengthen small, micro and women-led enterprises by enabling timely and seamless access to finance, and supporting key financial inclusion and sustainable development goals. It will benefit SHG and non-SHG members, promote climate-resilient technologies through green financing, and expand the scope of WASH and digital literacy initiatives.”

 Jiji Mammen, Executive Director and CEO, Sa-Dhan, said, “Our collaboration with Bank of India marks a significant step toward equitable access to affordable finance for enterprises, including SHGs and non-SHGs, while achieving sustainable development goals such as climate financing. Coupled with digital adoption and financial literacy, we aim to expand enterprise financing to rural and semi-urban areas, empowering small businesses and women-led enterprises with flexible lending for inclusive development.”