Women Lead Maharashtra’s Startup Revolution: CM Devendra Fadnavis Launches ‘Innovation Mahakumbha 2025’ at SNDT University
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Maharashtra is witnessing a powerful wave of women-led innovation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated ‘Innovation Mahakumbha 2025’ at SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, on November 9.
The event, jointly organised by SNDT University, the Ministry of Education (Government of India), and the Department of Higher and Technical Education, Maharashtra, celebrates the growing role of women entrepreneurs shaping the state’s startup ecosystem.
“Nearly 45% of Maharashtra’s startups are led by women — a sign of a truly empowered and innovative society,” said CM Fadnavis, highlighting how women innovators are transforming the economic landscape.
Maharashtra’s Bold Startup Vision
During the event, CM Fadnavis announced the state’s new Start-up, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy, designed to:
- Create more incubators and innovation hubs across universities,
- Build platforms for early-stage entrepreneurs, and
- Provide strong mentorship and funding support.
He emphasised that Maharashtra has become India’s startup capital, nurturing thousands of ventures that have scaled into successful industries.
The CM also linked this growth to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Start-up India’ mission, launched in 2014, which propelled India to the position of the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, now advancing toward the second.
Women at the Forefront of Innovation
Drawing a historical parallel, Fadnavis recalled how SNDT Women’s University, founded in 1916 by Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, stood for women’s empowerment even before women in the UK won the right to vote in 1918.
“From education to enterprise, women in Maharashtra are scripting a new chapter of progress,” he remarked.
He asserted that women innovators will play a decisive role in achieving Maharashtra’s goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy, contributing significantly to India’s ambition of a five-trillion-dollar economy.
The event was attended by Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, SNDT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ujjwala Chakradeo, and other senior officials, entrepreneurs, and student innovators.
The ceremony also featured the felicitation of emerging startups in healthcare, agriculture, and transportation technology, showcasing Maharashtra’s diverse innovation potential.
The Road Ahead
With nearly half of its startups led by women, Maharashtra is positioning itself as a national model for inclusive growth and innovation.
The newly launched policies are expected to accelerate incubation programs, inspire student entrepreneurs, and strengthen India’s global standing as a hub of women-driven startups.
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