Ahmedabad | July 8, 2026:
Highlights
- Global Participation: Applications received from United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Canada, alongside all 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India.
- Leading Categories: Technology, AI & Deep Tech led submissions, followed by Agri, Food & Rural Economy, Retail, Commerce & Consumer, Health & Pharma.
- Inclusivity: Strong participation from women entrepreneurs, rural changemakers, and sustainability-focused innovators.
- Applications Open: Until July 19, 2026 at vandebharatam.org.
Announcement
Vande Bharatam, a nationwide initiative launched by Mr. Gautam Adani to discover, nurture, and empower India’s next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators, has witnessed an overwhelming response from across India and international markets.
Applications have poured in from all Indian states and union territories, as well as from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, and Canada, underscoring the initiative’s global appeal.
Innovation Categories
- Technology, AI & Deep Tech emerged as the leading category, showcasing transformative ideas to solve real-world challenges.
- Other strong categories included Agri, Food & Rural Economy, Health & Pharma, Education, Retail, Commerce & Consumer, and Manufacturing & Industry 4.0.
Inclusivity & Impact
The applicant pool reflects:
- Women entrepreneurs driving innovation.
- Rural changemakers addressing grassroots challenges.
- Sustainability-focused innovators creating solutions with lasting social, economic, and environmental impact.
Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group: “Vande Bharatam is not a competition, it is a conviction. A conviction that the next idea to change India will not come from where it always has. India’s greatest chapter is not being written in boardrooms. It is being written by people who were never given a room to begin with. That changes now.”
Programme Structure
- Applications open until July 19, 2026 at vandebharatam.org.
- Evaluation based on innovation, entrepreneurial potential, impact, and scalability.
- 75 finalists to be invited to Ahmedabad for mentorship, industry interactions, and investor engagement.
- Finalists will gain access to mentors, investors, incubation support, and strategic partnerships.
- The Grand Finale, scheduled around India’s Independence Day, will mark the beginning of an ongoing engagement platform.
About Vande Bharatam
Vande Bharatam is a nationwide entrepreneurship and innovation initiative launched by Mr. Gautam Adani to identify, nurture, and showcase entrepreneurial talent from every corner 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.
Mr. Rajeev Khandelwal, acclaimed actor, television host, and entrepreneur, serves as the Ambassador and Host of Vande Bharatam, championing its mission to amplify entrepreneurial talent across India.
