New Delhi: As the government prepares to host the AI Impact Summit in the capital this week, former President Ram Nath Kovind said India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem should be defined by ethics, credibility and national purpose.
Speaking at ILLUMIN8, a national startup initiative hosted by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), Kovind said India’s technological progress must be matched by value-driven enterprise. Addressing founders, investors and mentors, he noted that India has grown from a few hundred startups to more than two lakh recognised ventures in just over a decade, with more than 100 achieving unicorn status.
“India becoming the third largest startup ecosystem in the world is far more than a ranking,” Kovind said, adding that entrepreneurs across sectors such as technology, agriculture, healthcare and clean energy are contributing to employment and economic confidence.
With global leaders and technology stakeholders set to attend the AI Impact Summit, Kovind emphasised that innovation, particularly in emerging technologies, must remain grounded in integrity. “Business and values must walk together,” he said, stressing that long-term credibility gives enterprise its strength and permanence.
Jeenendra Bhandari, Chairman of the JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF), said India’s startup ecosystem is increasingly focused on value creation for the real economy. He cited government initiatives such as Startup India Fund 2.0 as signals of continued policy support for innovation.
ILLUMIN8 featured selected early-stage startups, offering mentorship and live pitching opportunities before an investor panel, with the aim of strengthening links between innovation and capital.
