Editor’s Synopsis:
- Episodes 3, 4 and 5 of Vande Bharatam featured nine startups from across Bihar, Haryana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, spanning water-tech, climate, agri-tech, education and healthtech.
- Awards and commitments ranged from Vande Wings and mentorship to direct capital, including a ₹1 Cr allocation for Primary Healthtech and a ₹2 Cr investment for Bhaumya Innovations, split between two mentors.
- Mentors extended sector-specific support — from help implementing water solutions across the Gangetic plains to pilot opportunities in the Dharavi redevelopment project and Adani’s apple farms and airports.
- The season continues toward its Grand Finale on 17 September, where the winners will receive a ₹2 Cr cash prize backed by Adani Group.
Episodes Overview
New Delhi, September 8, 2026: Vande Bharatam, Mr Gautam Adani’s nationwide initiative to discover and celebrate India’s grassroots innovators and entrepreneurs, continued its television run with Episodes 3, 4 and 5.
Nine startups tackling India’s most pressing challenges – from arsenic-contaminated groundwater to rural pollination and last-mile diagnostics – pitched before a panel of investors and mentors including:
- Pranav Adani, Managing Director, Adani Enterprises Ltd
- Ankur Dahiya, Co-Founder & CEO, Rozana
- Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-Founder & President, Venture Catalysts
- Vijay Kedia, Founder & Director, Kedia Advisory
- Pratham Mittal, Founder, Tetr College of Business & Masters’ Union
Episode 3 (Aired 4 September): Navmarg, Jan Niti and Plenti
- Navmarg Research and Innovation (Bihar): Deep-tech water startup founded by a brother duo in their early twenties. Their patented MARU magnetic-separation system removes arsenic from drinking water without chemical dosing, already delivering 3.19 million litres of safe water.
- Commitments: Pranav Adani extended in-house mentorship via Vande Wings; Ankur Dahiya offered help implementing the technology across the Gangetic plains using Rozana networks.
- Jan Niti (Haryana): AI policy-simulation platform founded by IIT Kanpur and Stanford alumni, models socioeconomic outcomes of government and enterprise decisions.
- Commitments: Pranav Adani offered Vande Wings and support for a pilot in the Dharavi redevelopment project; Ankur Dahiya offered strategic mentorship, partnership, and interest in their investment rounds.
- Plenti (Kerala): Hyperlocal surplus-food marketplace enabling restaurants to sell unsold food as discounted meals, growing 12x in eight months.
- Commitments: Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma offered to connect offline for further discussions.
Episode 4 (Aired 5 September): Dharaksha Ecosolutions, Humble Bee and Bhaumya Innovations
- Humble Bee (Uttar Pradesh): Empowers rural and tribal women as owners of climate-resilient beekeeping enterprises through its AI-enabled BEEKIND platform.
- Commitments: Pranav Adani extended mentorship via Vande Wings, with opportunities in Adani’s apple farms and airports; Ankur Dahiya offered rural connections via Rozana; Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma offered a ₹5 Cr investment.
- Bhaumya Innovations (Telangana): Agri-hardware startup behind RUDRA, India’s first patented tractor-mounted stone collector.
- Commitments: Secured a ₹2 Cr investment, split between Vijay Kedia and Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, along with assured mentorship.
- Dharaksha Ecosolutions (Haryana): Produces compostable packaging from crop stubble and mushroom mycelium, addressing stubble burning and petroleum-based waste.
- Commitments: Ankur Dahiya extended Vande Wings and offline discussions; Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma offered to connect offline to evaluate a potential deal.
Episode 5 (Aired 6 September): Thinkerbell Labs, Primary Healthtech and JivaScope
- Thinkerbell Labs (Karnataka): Edtech startup founded by BITS Pilani alumni, creator of Annie, the world’s first self-learning braille literacy device.
- Commitments: Pratham Mittal committed collaboration and office visits; Vijay Kedia, Ankur Dahiya, and Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma expressed investment interest; Ankur Dahiya offered grassroots distribution support; Dr Sharma offered investment community connections.
- Primary Healthtech (Uttar Pradesh): Built Mobilab, the world’s first AI-powered “lab in a suitcase,” deployed across 300 sites in 15 states, delivering pathology results in 30 minutes.
- Commitments: Pratham Mittal committed a ₹1 Cr allocation at a ₹100 Cr valuation; Ankur Dahiya offered grassroots distribution and product trial support; Dr Sharma committed mentorship.
- JivaScope (West Bengal): Offline, AI-powered auscultation device screening for cardiac, respiratory, and tuberculosis conditions without internet connectivity.
- Commitments: Pratham Mittal invited them to attend a biotech summit in Delhi with a dedicated stall.
Season Outlook
These episodes highlight startups across water-tech, climate innovation, agri-hardware, edtech, and healthtech, reflecting the breadth of 26,000+ applicants from India and abroad.
The season builds toward its Grand Finale on 17 September, where winners will receive a ₹2 Cr cash prize backed by Adani Group.
About Vande Bharatam
Vande Bharatam is a nationwide grassroots innovation movement launched by Mr Gautam Adani to identify, nurture, and showcase entrepreneurial talent from every State and Union Territory of India.
Through a structured selection process, mentorship opportunities, and a national finale, the programme aims to broaden access to entrepreneurial opportunity and support the next generation of Indian innovators.
Acclaimed actor and television host Mr Rajeev Khandelwal serves as the Ambassador and Host, championing the mission of identifying, celebrating, and amplifying entrepreneurial talent across India.
📩 For media queries: Roy Paul — Roy.Paul@adani.com
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