Gathering Gujarat's ecosystem through Foundation's Innovation Dialogues, a catalyst to speed up the growth of inclusive entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-sized Businesses.
Wadhwani Foundation Kicks Off Innovation Dialogue Series in Gujarat
The Wadhwani Foundation, in collaboration with GESIA, TiE, and other ecosystem leaders across Vadodara and Ahmedabad, has launched the Innovation Dialogue Series. This initiative aims to co-create actionable solutions to drive startup scale-up, enhance MSME competitiveness, and foster innovation-led job creation.
The series is designed to activate and connect Gujarat's entrepreneurial ecosystem, bringing together diverse stakeholders such as founders, MSME leaders, student innovators, incubators, industry associations, academic institutions, and government bodies. The goal is to empower these groups to enable inclusive entrepreneurship and micro, small, and medium business growth.
Meetul Patel, President - Entrepreneurship & Government Digital Transformation at the Wadhwani Foundation, stated that the Foundation's goal is to empower doers to build what matters - without barriers. The Foundation's approach focuses on building connected, inclusive ecosystems, linking beneficiaries like students, early-stage startups, and growth-ready MSMEs to enablers such as incubators, policy institutions, industry platforms, and digital tools.
The series culminated in a significant event—the Dewang Mehta IT Awards—further emphasizing engagement with students and emerging tech leaders. The Innovation Dialogue Series specifically targets startup scale-up acceleration, enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs, and fostering innovation-driven employment generation, all through a collaborative approach leveraging regional entrepreneurial networks, government, academia, and industry partnerships in Gujarat.
The series will move to Ahmedabad on August 6 with two targeted sessions: Founders Forward at DevX and MSME Growth Dialogue at AMA. Founders Forward at DevX aims to address startup bottlenecks and pathways to scale, while MSME Growth Dialogue at AMA spotlights tech adoption, skilling, and competitiveness for small businesses.
The Innovation Dialogue Series in Vadodara started with a student-focused event co-hosted by The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, TiE Vadodara, and the Wadhwani Foundation. Maulik Bhansali, President of TiE Vadodara & CEO of NetWeb Software, expressed that Vadodara's startup scene is growing fast, and the dialogue with the Foundation couldn't be more timely.
A closed-door Ecosystem Roundtable was held in Vadodara to explore academic-industry-government collaboration for entrepreneurial growth. Pranav Pandya, Honorary Director of GESIA IT Association, stated that the Foundation's initiative brings clarity and action orientation to Gujarat's startup landscape.
The [our website] Foundation, a global non-profit, is hosting a four-day Innovation Dialogue Series in Vadodara and Ahmedabad from August 5-8. The series aims to activate Gujarat's entrepreneurial ecosystem by bringing together various stakeholders, including founders, MSME leaders, student innovators, incubators, industry associations, academic institutions, and government stakeholders.
CP Gurnani, Global Board Member of the Wadhwani Foundation and Founder of AlonOS, stated that the Innovation Dialogues are catalyzing meaningful partnerships across Gujarat. The Foundation offers flagship entrepreneurship programs - Ignite, Liftoff, and Accelerate - to empower students, early-stage ventures, and growth-stage businesses, respectively. All programs are offered free and with no equity, ensuring accessibility and impact at scale.
The series will culminate at the Dewang Meet Awards on August 8, with Meetul Patel, President - Entrepreneurship & Government Digital Transformation at the Wadhwani Foundation, serving as Guest of Honor. The Wadhwani Foundation is working in close partnership with key players in the Gujarat ecosystem, including GESIA IT Association, GCCI, AMA, TiE Ahmedabad & Vadodara, IIM Ventures, and several industrial associations across ODAV, Naroda, and Vatwa.
The Wadhwani Foundation believes that scalable impact begins with inclusive access to innovation, mentorship, and digital tools. The Innovation Dialogue Series reflects the Foundation’s broader commitment to building connected, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems where beneficiaries like students, startups, and growth-ready MSMEs are linked to enablers including incubators, policy institutions, industry platforms, and digital tools.
- The Wadhwani Foundation's Innovation Dialogue Series, active in Gujarat, aims to enhance competitiveness in the finance and business sectors by empowering diverse stakeholders, including entrepreneurs and students, to foster innovation-led growth through digital government and technology.
- As part of the Education-and-self-development aspect, the Innovation Dialogue Series in Gujarat aims to provide access to resources and opportunities, such as skills training and networking events, to help students and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) compete effectively in the ever-evolving market landscape.
