In a celebration of tribal innovation and entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs showcased 45 tribal-led startups at the Startup Mahakumbh 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The showcase was part of the Ministry’s flagship initiative “DhartiAabaTribepreuners 2025” under the larger celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, which aims to recognize and empower the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Among the highlights of the event, it was the national recognition of two tribal-led ventures OurGuest Travels and Ngurie Organic Pvt. Ltd. which were incubated at premier institutions IIM Kolkata and IIT Guwahati respectively. The awards were conferred by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, in the presence of senior dignitaries, symbolising the government’s commitment to nurturing inclusive growth through entrepreneurship.
OurGuest Travels, founded in Gangtok, Sikkim, and incubated at IIM Kolkata, received the prestigious Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Award. The platform is the first Online Travel Aggregator (OTA) from Northeast India and provides curated travel experiences including homestays, farmstays, and eco-tours across Sikkim, North Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. With a network of over 600 homestays and 50+ trained guides, the startup has hosted more than 6,000 travelers while promoting rural livelihoods, sustainability, and indigenous hospitality.
Meanwhile, Ngurie Organic Pvt. Ltd., an AgriTech venture incubated at IIT Guwahati, bagged the AgriTech Award for its innovative contributions to organic farming and sustainable agriculture. Leveraging data-driven research, precision farming techniques, and blockchain for supply chain transparency, Ngurie is actively transforming rural agriculture. The startup offers solutions that reduce water consumption, enhance soil health, and improve crop productivity—helping farmers adapt to climate challenges while strengthening food security.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Jual Oram and Ministry Secretary Shri Vibhu Nayar congratulated the awardees and praised all participating startups for representing the aspirations of tribal India. “These startups are not just business ventures; they are vehicles of empowerment and dignity for tribal communities,” said Shri Oram.
The three-day event also featured exclusive panel discussions, including one titled “Investing in Bharat: Unlocking Startup Potential Beyond the Metro,” with eminent voices such as T. Roumuan Paite (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs), Vikram Gupta (IvyCap Ventures), Sandeep Nagbhushan Aithal (Infosys Ltd.), Vineet Khurana (SACC India), and moderator Amit Pandey from IVCA. Discussions revolved around equitable funding, mentorship for tribal startups, and expanding the innovation economy beyond urban centers.
Adding a hands-on component, IIT Delhi faculty led a Design Thinking Workshop, enabling tribal founders to refine their business models and develop strategies for scaling their enterprises. The workshop proved particularly useful for early-stage entrepreneurs navigating funding challenges and market access.
To further empower the next generation, the event included participation from 100 students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and 150 tribal students currently pursuing higher education scholarships. These young minds, along with 45 tribal startup founders, received participation certificates in recognition of their role in India’s innovation journey. Attendees also benefited from a startup bootcamp held at IIT Delhi, alongside exposure visits to key players in the startup ecosystem.
The Ministry’s initiative, DhartiAabaTribepreuners 2025, continues to gain momentum as it brings together mentorship, incubation, funding, and national-level exposure for tribal entrepreneurs. With platforms like Startup Mahakumbh, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is not only building a robust support system for tribal startups but also ensuring that tribal India becomes an integral stakeholder in shaping the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.
The success of tribal-led ventures at the Startup Mahakumbh stands as a powerful testament to the capabilities, creativity, and resilience of India’s tribal communities and a reminder that true progress is inclusive, innovative, and deeply rooted in the diversity of Bharat.
