In the bustling heart of innovation, where dreams converge with determination, there emerged a day that would etch itself into the annals of entrepreneurial history – ‘National Startup Day’.
A celebration of ingenuity, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of novel ideas, this event brought together visionaries, creators, and risk-takers under one roof. As the sun cast its golden glow on a gathering of aspiring startups, each with a unique story waiting to unfold, the air was charged with the promise of possibility. This was not just an event; it was a convergence of passions, a symphony of aspirations, and a testament to the power of entrepreneur-ship.

The focal idea of celebrating this day is to cultivate a robust startup ecosystem, and pivot India into a nation of job creators rather than job seekers. Last year this crucial day commenced with an oath of inventing innovation and the theme was ‘Founder of Today, Leader of Tomorrow’. This year the startup India will be completing 8 years and the theme of this year is ‘Celebrating 8 Years of Innovation’. The sole motive behind encouraging the idea of entrepreneurship is to give a boost to schemes like Make-in-India.

Start your day with determination to push the boundaries beyond the horizon and show your potential to the world in order to end it with satisfaction!

Here are the quotes from the industry leader, sharing their valuable insights to commemorate Startup Day.

Vishal Salvi, Chief Executive Officer, Quick Heal Technologies Limited stated, “In today's digitized landscape, cybersecurity is vital for all businesses, especially for the startups where digital dependency is quite high and it is also key to their scalability and success. As we celebrate National Startup Day, we reiterate cybersecurity's pivotal role in fostering resilience within entrepreneurial ecosystems. As the very first Indian cybersecurity startup, we deeply understand the unique challenges startups face ranging from low awareness and budget constraints to seamless implementation and a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. Therefore, our solutions are carefully designed to be simple and sentient ensuring easy deployment, compliance, and robust protection enabling startups to focus on their mission to becoming ‘the next unicorn”.

Nishith Rastogi, Founder & CEO, Locus mentioned, “National Startup Day is a powerful testament to the boundless potential of entrepreneurship, which is instrumental in creating jobs, driving innovation, and fueling economic growth in India. As an entrepreneur, I am deeply thankful for the consistent support extended by the Government of India to our entrepreneurial landscape. The success story of the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) is particularly inspiring in the logistics field, demonstrating how innovative startups can transform entire industries”. Further he added, “At Locus, we firmly believe that the government's visionary initiatives, exemplified by programs like Digital India, act as ideal launch pads for Indian entrepreneurs. These initiatives encourage them to push boundaries, making a significant impact continually. We actively promote a culture that nurtures entrepreneurship and innovation for the greater good”.

Prateek Jain, Associate Director, ADIF said, “India is a land of opportunities and possibilities, where startups are not just creating solutions, but also solving problems. We, at ADIF, are committed to supporting the startup ecosystem by advocating for fair business practices, policy reforms, and collaboration. We appreciate the government's support and guidance to emerging businesses, through initiatives such as the Startup India programme, the National Startup Awards, and the Startup India Innovation Week. However, there is a need for the government and other stakeholders to ensure fair business practices and collaboration to create an even more conducive environment for startups. On this National Startup Day, we laud budding businesses across the nation for their innovation and resilience, and we also urge the government to further extend its support to these startups by creating a level playing field for them through policy reforms and regulatory measures”.

Parag Khurana, Country Manager, Barracuda Networks(India) added, “National Startup Day is a great opportunity to help emerging businesses to understand how to protect their fledgling operations, assets, and customers in a world of dynamic and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Cybersecurity underpins long-term business growth and success, and it doesn’t need to be resource intensive or complicated. Essential security technologies including email and network protection, robust authentication and access measures, effective back-ups and data protection should form an integral part of any IT environment. This should be coupled with education for employees on threats to look out for and what they should do if they spot something suspicious. There are service providers and vendors who can support new businesses in implementing and managing the security that is right for them. This is increasingly important because in today’s digital age, where threats are persistent and target organizations at any time of day or night, round-the-clock protective services provided by a specialist partner can make all the difference. Good habits last a lifetime, and start-ups have a chance to embed cybersecurity awareness and principles from the get-go”.

Siddharth Singhal, CEO, Vibcare Pharma shared his gratitude about this noble campaign. He believes that the entrepreneurial spirit is a vital force in driving industry advancements, and said, “It's not just about building a successful business in fact it is about making a meaningful impact on lives and contributing positively to society. To the young entrepreneurs of today, I say embrace the challenges, stay committed to your vision, and remember that your work has the potential to make a profound difference”.

Srinath Ramakkrushnan, Co-Founder & COO, Zetwerk quoted, “On this National Startup Day, we at Zetwerk, express our profound gratitude to the Government of India for establishing a remarkable ecosystem that has greatly contributed to the flourishing new economy. The narrative of Zetwerk would not have been conceivable without the pivotal role played by the Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST has played a transformative role for startups like ours, enabling the consolidation of manufacturing capacities nationwide. This unification has empowered us to provide on-demand services to projects spanning the entire country, fostering efficiency and collaboration”.

Sanjay Ghare, Co-Founder & CEO, Vervotech, shared, “From chai-powered startups in Pune to unicorns in Bengaluru, India is churning out 1,000 SaaS companies a year. And with an annual growth rate surpassing 30 percent, Indian SaaS startups have attracted over US dollar 6 billion in investments, becoming second largest ecosystem. This numerical surge reflects a paradigm shift, where innovation and entrepreneurship are pushing India to the forefront of the global SaaS revolution”.
Last Note
Government’s unwavering encouragements and initiatives like Startup India and Atal Innovation Mission provides startups with essential resources, mentorship, and favorable policies. As the curtain descended on Startup Day, it left behind a trail of inspiration and a spark that would continue to ignite the flames of innovation. In the echo of pitch presentations and networking buzz, a tapestry of ambition was woven. The stories told on this day were not just about business plans and revenue projections; they were narratives of courage, tenacity, and the audacity to dream. The event served as a reminder that startups are not merely ventures; they are the embodiment of human spirit, resilience, and the unwavering belief that, with the right idea and the right team, the impossible is just a challenge waiting to be conquered. As the attendees dispersed, carrying with them the energy of the day, the startup journey for many had just begun – a journey fueled by passion, fueled by purpose, and bound for the extraordinary.