Held in partnership with GESIA, TiE and other ecosystem leaders across Vadodara and Ahmedabad
The Wadhwani Foundation, a global not-for-profit driving job creation through entrepreneurship, skilling, and government digital transformation, has kicked off a four-day Innovation Dialogue Series across Vadodara and Ahmedabad (August 5–8).
These curated roundtables and community engagements are designed to activate Gujarat’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—bringing together founders, MSME leaders, student innovators, incubators, industry associations, academic institutions, and government stakeholders. The objective: to co-create actionable solutions that drive startup scale-up, MSME competitiveness, and innovation-led job creation.
The series will culminate at the Dewang Mehta IT Awards on August 8, where Meetul Patel, President – Entrepreneurship & Government Digital Transformation at Wadhwani Foundation, will serve as Guest of Honor, addressing a gathering of students and emerging tech leaders.
Powering Gujarat’s Ecosystem: From Students to Scale-Ups
At the heart of Wadhwani Foundation’s approach is a deep commitment to building connected, inclusive ecosystems—where beneficiaries like students, early-stage startups, and growth-ready MSMEs are seamlessly linked to enablers such as incubators, policy institutions, industry platforms, and digital tools. Through its flagship entrepreneurship programs—Ignite, Liftoff, and Accelerate—the Foundation is enabling:
Students to explore entrepreneurship through experiential learning,
Early-stage ventures to build leadership and execution capacity, and
Growth-stage businesses to scale sustainably.
All programs are offered entirely free and with no equity, ensuring accessibility and impact at scale.
“Gujarat has long been a cradle of enterprise. Through these Innovation Dialogues, we are catalyzing meaningful partnerships across the state—from students and startups to MSMEs and policy enablers,” said CP Gurnani, Global Board Member, Wadhwani Foundation & Founder, AlonOS. “At the Foundation, we believe scalable impact begins with inclusive access to innovation, mentorship, and digital tools.”
Startups and MSMEs in Gujarat can also reach out directly to the Wadhwani Foundation’s local team, based in Ahmedabad, for access to program support, guidance, and ecosystem connections.
Ecosystem in Action: Dialogue and Collaboration Across Gujarat
The series began in Vadodara with a vibrant student-focused event co-hosted by The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, TiE Vadodara, and Wadhwani Foundation, followed by a closed-door Ecosystem Roundtable to explore academic-industry-government collaboration for entrepreneurial growth.
On August 6, the agenda moves to Ahmedabad with two targeted sessions:
Founders Forward at DevX, addressing startup bottlenecks and pathways to scale
MSME Growth Dialogue at AMA, spotlighting tech adoption, skilling, and competitiveness for small businesses
These forums aim to strengthen connections across Gujarat’s innovation value chain—from early ideas to enterprise-ready ventures.
Building With Gujarat’s Leading Institutions
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.
“At GESIA, we see great value in creating platforms where innovation meets mentorship and policy support,” said Pranav Pandya, Honorary Director, GESIA IT Association. “The Foundation’s initiative brings that clarity and action orientation to Gujarat’s startup landscape.”
“Vadodara’s startup scene is growing fast, and this dialogue with Wadhwani Foundation couldn’t be more timely,” said Maulik Bhansali, President, TiE Vadodara & CEO, NetWeb Software. “Founders here are hungry for guidance, networks, and zero-cost resources that can take their ventures to the next level.”
A Movement for Inclusive Innovation
“At Wadhwani Foundation, we’re building an India where students, startups, and SMBs—across every city and state—can grow with confidence, capability, and ecosystem support,” said Meetul Patel, President – Entrepreneurship & Government Digital Transformation, Wadhwani Foundation. “Our goal is simple: empower doers to build what matters—without barriers.”
Online sources:
The Times of India
Gujarati Khabar
Gujarat Gaurav
Amdavad Live
Aajna Samachar
Amdavad Post
Virat Gujarat
Truth of Bharat
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