The Ministry of Tribal Affairs placed tribal innovation at the heart of Startup Mahakumbh 2025 by showcasing 45 tribal-led startups under the Dharti Aaba Tribepreuners 2025 initiative. Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as part of the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh campaign, the event amplified indigenous innovation and community-led entrepreneurship.
🌱 Innovation from India’s Heartlands
Two standout startups were recognized for their impact and scalability:
- OurGuest Travels (Top View Pvt. Ltd.):
Based in Gangtok, Sikkim, and incubated at IIM Kolkata, OurGuest is Northeast India’s first Online Travel Aggregator (OTA). It offers 600+ curated homestays and authentic local experiences across the region and beyond. The platform has served 6,000+ travellers, empowering rural communities through eco-tourism and sustainable travel. - Ngurie Organic Pvt. Ltd.:
A startup from Nagaland, incubated at IIT Guwahati, Ngurie Organic leverages precision agriculture and blockchain technology to promote sustainable farming. Their solutions are reducing water use, restoring soil health, and increasing productivity—pioneering responsible agriculture in tribal regions.
Government and Institutional Backing
The event was attended by dignitaries including:
- Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry
- Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister
- Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs
All three leaders praised the tribal startups for their community-rooted innovation, reinforcing that tribal entrepreneurs are key stakeholders in India's journey toward an inclusive and self-reliant future.
Student and Educator Engagement
Over 100 students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and 150 tribal scholarship beneficiaries participated, gaining first-hand exposure to India's startup ecosystem.
Meanwhile, faculty from IIT Delhi conducted a Design Thinking Workshop to help tribal entrepreneurs refine their ideas and business models—creating a vital link between grassroots ideas and institutional knowledge.
Startup Mahakumbh 2025: Bigger and Bolder
The three-day event, held from April 3–5, saw participation from nearly 3,000 startups and 64 countries, doubling in scale from its previous edition. Thematic pavilions focused on sectors like AI, DeepTech, AgriTech, and more, offering tribal innovators a platform to showcase their products and forge strategic partnerships.
The Road Ahead: Viksit Bharat 2047
The Dharti Aaba Tribepreuners 2025 initiative is more than a one-off showcase. It is part of a sustained effort to:
- Build a national-level tribal startup ecosystem
- Offer mentorship, funding, and capacity-building
- Promote tribal self-reliance and innovation
This aligns with the government’s broader vision of an inclusive Viksit Bharat by 2047, where tribal communities are not just beneficiaries, but creators of economic opportunity and innovation.