ET Soonicorns Summit 2024: Spotlight on India's Emerging Startup Ecosystem

ET Soonicorns Summit 2024: Soonicorns-only roundtables with insider information

The ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 -- an Economic Times initiative -- is gearing up for its third edition in Bengaluru on September 20, 2024. This third edition of the summit -- themed 'From Resurgence to Resilience' with a core messaging for startups to 'Recalibrate. Rebound. Reinvent' -- is going to be held on September 20 in Bengaluru. A definitive platform to celebrate soonicorns -- a name given to startups on the cusp of becoming unicorns -- the summit has a long, illustrious list of industry leaders, policymakers, and industry inside leaders, who will let attendees have a peek into their playbooks for navigating the highs and the lows of the startup ecosystem in India. However, what's a soonicorn summit without sessions designed exclusively for soonicorns? Bringing together over 15+ speakers across three curated topics, these closed-door conversations promise to take you on a knowledge-sharing tour, with some of the most disruptive players of the Indian startup ecosystem set to share their playbooks. Not only a robust and resilient fintech, but a thriving fintech is how the country's tech-enabled financial products and services sector could be described. Sample this: The Indian fintech ecosystem is the third-largest worldwide, according to "State of the Fintech Union 2024", a joint report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Z47. No wonder that this fastest-growing ecosystem globally continues to demonstrate growth, with revenues surging to $25 billion in 2023 -- up by 56% year-on-year -- despite a dip in funding. "The sector has received investments of about $6 billion in the last two years alone," The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said. India, with its rich demographic dividend, especially with a significant youth population, is riding on the fintech wave. At an 87% adoption rate, India also leaves behind the world average of 64%. Manish Kumar, CEO & Founder of KredX; Ujjwal Jain, CEO, Share.Market; Raghunandan G, Founder, Zolve; Vishal Chopra, Co-Founder & CEO- WeRize; Anuj Kacker, Co-founder, Freo; Anuj Gupta, Chief Risk Officer, Credit Saison India; and Kaushal Singh, Head Of Engineering, Jar, will dive into this rapidly evolving financial landscape. The numbers indicate that a huge section of the Indian population has already adopted fintech, arguably overwhelmingly during the pandemic when traditional payment modes were disrupted. However, experts say the challenge and opportunity both lie in diversification, hyper-personalisation of products, and penetrating untapped pockets. This is also likely to drive financial inclusion for all. With these undercutting themes, speakers will explore how innovation in credit, finance, and investment products can drive financial inclusion for the next billion users. The role of technology, particularly AI is undeniable in accelerating fintech adoption and driving financial inclusion, expect insights into how fintech players are reimagining credit to create more accessible financial products. When it comes to credit, the challenges of serving individuals with little or no credit history remain paramount. Expect these experts to focus on risk management and customisation in credit products. Expect insights into the complexities of cross-border financial services, and tools to navigate regulatory hurdles across different countries. The future of cross-border fintech and the opportunities this space holds for new entrepreneurs is something that has captured the attention of industry leaders for some time now. The balancing act between scalability and personalisation is also critical, particularly when serving underserved households in Tier 1 and Tier 2 India. How fintech players could address the trust deficit in these regions is worth considering. How to maintain compliance without compromising customer security is a question that speakers are likely to address. The challenges of catering to first-time investors with little industry exposure are also significant. Expect data-led insights into personalised and seamless customer experience in India's dynamic financial landscape. Finally, investment is another space that is attracting steady attention. Expect the conversation to touch upon the retail investment space and strategies to attract young, first-time investors and how AI is helping democratise investments in India. This roundtable, moderated by Miloni Bhatt, promises to offer deep insights into how fintech startups can innovate to meet the needs of the next billion users while navigating the challenges of scalability, regulatory compliance, and AI integration. "AI for All" in India: Leveraging AI across sectors and its limitless possibilities The second closed-door roundtable will dive into the currency of our time: Artificial Intelligence (AI), and delve into how AI is transforming industries, with its far-reaching impact on various sectors. The discussion will cover how AI is being harnessed to drive innovation in logistics, retail, mobility, healthcare, and beyond. Expect to hear about the integration of AI into business operations, the challenges of implementing AI-driven solutions, and the opportunities for startups to leverage AI for competitive advantage. This session is highly relevant for understanding how AI can be a catalyst for growth and sustainability. Featured speakers include Ramesh Kumar Katreddi, VP of Engineering, Jumbotail; Vaibhav Khandelwal, Co-Founder & CTO, Shadowfax; Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-Founder, Scaler & Interviewbit; Sarang Sharma, Product Head, Practo; Vinay Rai, Executive Vice President Engineering, Netradyne. This session will be moderated by Nirmal John, Senior Editor at The Economic Times. What next after product-market fit?: The growth vs. profitability conundrum Achieving product-market fit is a significant milestone, but the real challenge lies in managing growth while ensuring profitability. This roundtable will address the complexities of scaling startups, including balancing aggressive growth strategies with financial health. Expect the conversation to straddle varied facets of navigating the growth versus profitability conundrum, with a focus on operational efficiencies, cost management, and sustainable growth practices. If you are a startup founder navigating the delicate balance between expanding the market presence and maintaining the profitability of your startup, this could just be the session for you. The speakers include Maxson Lewis, Founder & CEO, Magenta Mobility; Amitabh Saran, Founder & CEO, Altigreen; Hemanth Vasudevan, VP & Head of Marketing, Ninjacart; Vanda Ferrao, Chief Marketing Officer, WOW Skin Science; Vinod Changaramkandam, Head of Finance, Medfin; Ankit Taparia, Head of Marketing, Yulu; and Abhishek Sudhakar, SVP - Business Excellence, Captain Fresh. The session will be moderated by Shabori Das, Senior Assistant Editor at ET Prime. Join these closed-door roundtables at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024, as they offer a unique platform for soonicorns to engage in in-depth discussions with industry leaders. Designed to provide deep insights into critical topics such as financial innovation, AI applications, and scaling strategies, this could be every startup founder or aspirational entrepreneur's dream come true to meet those who have already crossed this threshold to reach the soonicorn milestone and learn from their candid takes on the challenges and opportunities in their sectors. And most importantly, receive first-hand insights into scaling while building a strong culture of innovation. ET Soonicorns Summit is powered by Phoenix Kessaku. Upskilling Partner: UpGrad Enterprise; Insurance Partner: PolicyBazaar for Business; Banking Partner: Bank of India. Gifting Partners: IGP.com; The Mind and Company, Plum, Clay Capital. To learn more about the ET Soonicorns Summit, visit the website. To register now, click here.

Startups soonicorns get a stage to shine at ET Summit today

This flagship startup-tech initiative from ET brings together industry leaders, innovative disruptors, unicorn and soonicorn founders, policymakers, and seasoned investors-who have managed to crack the startup code-on a single platform and democratise their playbooks. The third edition of the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 to be held in Bengaluru on September 20 is themed "From Resurgence to Resilience" and encourages startups to "Recalibrate. Rebound. Reinvent". The summit aims to foster growth by bridging the gap between businesses and their potential. This flagship startup-tech initiative from ET brings together industry leaders, innovative disruptors, unicorn and soonicorn founders, policymakers, and seasoned investors-who have managed to crack the startup code-on a single platform and democratise their playbooks. The aim is to analyse the emerging trends and get a hold of the emerging trends in a rapidly evolving startup ecosystem. The actionable insights and the day's agenda are curated to ensure plentiful networking opportunities that can be pivotal in altering the trajectory of startups in the right direction. How to prepare your startup for funds raised from series A to pre-IPO? How are seasoned startups navigating policy frameworks? What explains the sharp drop in funding to women-founded startups? Sessions include India-first Gen-AI cases showcase, challenges and impact of misinformation due to AI, Fintech innovations for the next billion, SaaS scaling strategies to lead the SaaS global race. What's driving the strategic shift of startups to come back to India and the tax payout conundrum? And, sessions on India's spacetech, climate tech, clean energy, and Electric Vehicle. The event has 60+ prominent speakers of the day, including a keynote address by BV Naidu, Chairman of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, followed by sessions with Hari Menon of Big Basket, Aman Gupta of Boat, Mayank Kumar of upGrad, Prayank Swaroop of Accel, Amit Somani of Prime Ventures, Anand Datta of Nexus Ventures, Ritesh Banglani of Stellaris Ventures; Kanika Mayar of Vertex Ventures, Anand Lunia of IndiaQuotient, Hardika Shah of Kinara Capital, Shanti Mohan of LetsVenture, Ramakant Sharma of LivSpace, Minu Margaret of BlissClub, Shally Modi of Pratilipi, Sangeeta Bavi of Microsoft, among many others. Climate activist Disha Ravi will join the AI discussion to raise questions on the communication ethics and miscommunication issues. The event features a curated list of disruptive startups that will share their playbook and work. Startups and founders from across India will be in attendance. Book your ticket today at www.etsoonicornsummit.com.

ET Soonicorns Summit 2024: Are you attending the summit that matters -- a deep dive into India's startup ecosystem?

The anticipation ends! The day of India's largest soonicorns congregation has finally arrived -- with 60 plus speakers, 50 soonicorn founders, 200 plus startups, over nine thematic tracks, 20 plus curated sessions, and 20 plus frontier sectors. The stage is set, and in a short while from now we will be listening to industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, founders, and thought leaders as they take a long hard look at the startup ecosystem of India with the 'funding winter' in hindsight. Are you attending the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 in Bengaluru today? There is still time to register and attend this revamped and repurposed event, and it will be worth the rush. To register: Click Here This is the third, and first-ever ticketed edition of the summit and has been themed, 'From Resurgence to Resilience' with a core messaging or call for startups to 'Recalibrate. Rebound. Reinvent' -- aimed at outlining the future of the Indian startup ecosystem. On an action-packed day, the summit will host some goal-driven and forward-looking discussions designed to identify gaps in the ecosystem, bid adieu to practices that did not yield the desired results, and adopt a future-oriented approach to stay ahead of AI-led disruptions. Here is an overview of what is on agenda for the summit today. The keynote address and report launch BV Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) will deliver the keynote address titled, 'From Resilience to Resurgence with Sustainable Business Models'. He will share his insights into the role of KDEM in bridging the knowledge gap between the Indian startup ecosystem and the government of Karnataka. The chairman will also talk about the initiatives of Karnataka government towards nurturing the startup ecosystem in and "beyond" Bengaluru. The chairman is also scheduled to unveil the ET 50 Future Unicorns of Karnataka report, in collaboration with Tracxn, a Bengaluru-based data intelligence firm, which dives deep into the landscape of soonicorns, showcasing Karnataka's most promising startups. Quick-commerce buzz Quick commerce has altered India's retail and last-mile delivery landscape post-pandemic, and the sector is slated to show exponential growth going forward. The potential can be gauged from the fact that between 2022 and 2023 the quick commerce sector in India grew by a mammoth 70% to $2.3 billion. Obviously, investments too are growing in the sector and it is expected to touch the $5.5 billion mark by 2025. At the Soonicorns Summit 2024, we will have Hari Menon, Co-Founder of BigBasket -- a Bengaluru-headquartered online grocery store, currently owned by Tata Digital-in conversation with Digbijay Mishra, Deputy Editor, ET Tech. Menon will speak about: Beyond hope and uncertainty The Venture Capital (VC) ecosystem has shown exemplary resilience through a prolonged furnding winter, which manifested through a squeeze on the volume as well as the number of the VC deals in the past few years. The funding plummeted by a substantial 65%-from $27.5 billion in 2022 to just $9.6 billion in 2023-per a 2024 report by Bain and Company in collaboration with the Indian Venture Capital Association (IVCA). The turnaround is palpable, however, and a funding spring looks imminent with the VC funding, in H1 of the current year growing by a sizeable 45% from the H2 of 2o23. The panel titled, 'Surge in Investor Interest: Vision and Outlook of the Indian VC Ecosystem Beyond Hype and Uncertainty,' at the summit will explore the way forward, strewn with optimism as well as caution. The speakers include: This is your chance to learn from the best in the business about resilience, recalibration, and forward-looking strategies to navigate the funding landscape in difficult circumstances as well as through the ease that looks imminent. To register: Click Here Homecoming heroes Reverse flipping or homecoming is a phenomenon where startups originally incorporated at offshore locations are now relocating to India. The trend has witnessed a remarkable uptick with favourable government policies in India, and other factors that are in stride with the interests of the business owners. At the Soonicorns summit we have Abhishek Dubey, Partner at Trilegal - M&A, Venture Capital & Private Equity, and Ramakant Sharma, Founder and COO, Livspace. The two of them, equipped with their legal acumen and hands-on experience of the subject, will take us through the intricacies of 'homecoming' and answer any pertinent questions. English-speaking machines? Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning is driving the next wave of innovation, while getting innovated upon almost in real time. Will there be a time when AI and machine integration will reach a level where we can speak English to machines? Will there be a time when coding language will be obsolete and the machines will follow simple English commands to produce results? All this and more in this Fireside chat with Mayank Kumar, Co-founder and MD of Upgrad, titled, 'The Future of Learning: Will Future Developers Speak English to Machines?' This is the future! Stay ahead of time with some deep, intriguing insights into AI and machine learning from the best in the business. Breaking barriers A report, Women India Startup Ecosystem, by WISER establishes that women-led startups have shown an 18% spike in the last half a decade. However, when it comes to funding, they have received a meagre 5% of the $10 billion raised by startups last year. This is a spiral down from 9% of the $25 billion raised in the year 2022. Where does this disparity stem from? Is there a way forward to bridge this gender gap? Do investors need to repose more trust in women founders and their startups than they have been, traditionally? At the Soonicorns summit, we have curated a panel titled, 'Women in the Indian Startup Ecosystem: Breaking barriers and bridging the gender funding gap,' wherein some women stalwarts from the ecosystem will put forth key insights and talk about the way forward. The speakers include: Striking a balance India presently ranks third in digital payments, across the world, with an impressive 87% Fintech adoption rate, all thanks to the Digital India initiative and a rapidly growing smartphone penetration across the rural-urban divide. New frontiers keep emerging, be it payments, credit, credit cards, Buy Now Pay Later, or others -- and amid the ever-expanding demand the concerns about consumer protection are also growing. In this panel, we will learn the nuances of fintech, treading the tightrope between innovation and regulation, and the way forward in this all important sector, topping the charts in valuation as well as in funding. The discussion will be held under the panel, 'Fintech: How to strike a balance between the regulatory lens and growth?' with some industry stalwarts on the podium. The speakers include: Learning from the mistakes We make mistakes, and learn from them to soar further and to make amends. This one story of learning from the mistakes, of oneself and of others, stands out. Author and entrepreneur, Kim Hvidkjaer, became a millionaire at 29 and then lost it all. His story of resurrection, and studying thousands of startups to identify the mistakes -- How to F*ck Up Your Startup: The Science Behind Why 90% of Companies Fail -- and How You Can Avoid It -- has become a Wall Street Journal best-seller. The Soonicorns summit is pleased to have a pre-recorded session, 'How not to be the 90% of Startups: Kim Hvidkjaer Shares Critical Mistakes to Avoid,' with the entrepreneur-author. Register and learn how to avoid the common mistakes the startup founders commit. To register: Click Here The models of GenAI growth and countering deep fakes Artificial Intelligence (AI), when integrated with business, provides colossal opportunities for startups to grow, and take their entities beyond the traditional markers of success. The AI landscape, however, comes with crucial responsibilities as well vis-à-vis policies, perspectives, deep fakes, inauthentic content, and the all-important ethical aspect. We are all set to take a deep dive into the subject with a TED-talk, and a panel discussion -- dissecting all the important questions and paving the way forward towards a safer AI and deep-tech integration with businesses. First up, we will have Sangeeta Bavi, Executive Director - Digital Natives, at Microsoft India, speak about, 'Empowering India's Deep Tech & AI Landscape: Policies, Perspectives, and India-First Models for GenAI Growth,' in her TED-talk. Following this the round-table conversation titled, 'Countering Deep Fakes, Inauthentic Content: Responding to the Ethical AI Imperative Through India's AI Policy and Global Regulations' will be held among speakers, including: Cracking the fundraising code Startup founders, the early-stage ones in particular, often have the odds of uncertainty and myths stacked against them when it comes to fundraising. Every single one of them wishes, or has wished, someone to do a little hand-holding and guide them through this most important aspect of the startup ecosystem. For the first time in India, that hand-holding is going to happen. We, at the Soonicrons Summit, will tell you how to raise money -- the single most important aspect of entrepreneurship in India. This is unprecedented and we have the best of the minds to dissect the subject threadbare for founders, investors, and everyone who needs and wants to learn the nuances of fundraising. Sanjay Khan Nagra, Khaitan & Co; Amit Ramani, CMD, Awfis Space Solutions and Neeraj Tyagi, Co-founder & CEO, We Founder Circle and Partner, Avinya VC will clear the myths and the uncertainties for you in the panel titled, 'Step-wise: Conquering the Startup Ladder from Series A to Pre-IPO.' What are you waiting for? Register now Survival of the fittest Jitendra Chouksey, Founder, FITTR calls himself an "accidental entrepreneur" and a "regular guy into fitness and stuff". At the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024, Chouksey will talk, in a Fireside Chat, about 'Survival of the Fittest: Jitendra Chouksey's Secrets of Navigating Fit-tech and Building a Strong Business Core'. Learn some of the 'fittest' strategies in navigating the startup landscape with success from this author of the best-selling book Lose Fat, Get Fittr. Aman's love, to India Aman Gupta, Co-founder and CMO, boAt, has masterfully crafted a household product-centric brand of wearables and audio devices in a market that is services-driven. Wouldn't it be intriguing to learn how he orchestrated the feat, single handedly and has sustained in the market with an out and out product-driven success. What is his formula? Let us learn from the man himself! We have a Fireside Chat titled, 'To India with Love: Aman Gupta on Orchestrating boAt's Product-driven Success,' with him. Expect him to come up with some profound insights and actionable strategies you can replicate for your own startups. India's SaaS ambitions India's global share of the Software-as-a-Service products has been stagnant at a meagre 6% since 2022. Reason being that a macroeconomic correction at the global level has forced many large enterprises in India to cut down on their SaaS spending. Having said that, the way forward looks bright for the Indian SaaS industry -- riding high on a pool of skilled tech workforce, favourable government policies, customised services, prioritising security, and a global recognition. The global share is expected to rise by a promising 2% in the next four years -- taking the market size of SaaS products in the country to $37 billion, from the present $12 billion. By 2030, this figure is expected to swell to $50 billion. At the Soonicorns Summit we have Mitesh Shah, Co-founder, Inflection Point Ventures; Lalit Bhise, CEO & Founder of Bizom; Yamini Bhat, Co-founder & CEO, Vymo; and Tarun Joshi, Founder & CEO of IGP.com to share their valuable insights on 'Expanding the Indian SaaS Footprint at Home and Abroad: Scaling Strategies to Achieve the $37B Target.' A step towards zero-emission India's ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, as outlined at COP26, is a noteworthy commitment in wake of global warming and the challenges that lie ahead. Sustainability is the way forward, and it comes in the form of space-tech, climate-tech, clean energy, and a gradual shift towards Electric Vehicles (EVs). Join our expert panellists as they tap into the sunrise sector of electric vehicles (EVs), and the emerging realms of climate and clean-tech, to determine how these are positioned to drive India's growth in the foreseeable future. The speakers dissecting the topic, 'Building for Tomorrow: Insights from Changemakers in India's Space Tech, Climate Tech, Clean Energy, and EV Sectors,' include: And that is not it! We have a 'startup showcase' presentation lined up by Mukul Rustagi, CEO & Co-Founder, Classplus, as well. Do not miss this chance to learn everything about the ever-evolving startup landscape of India, and get exclusive access to actionable insights into playbooks of success by the who's who of the industry. ET Soonicorns Summit is powered by Phoenix Kessaku. Upskilling Partner: UpGrad Enterprise; Insurance Partner: PolicyBazaar for Business; Banking Partner: Bank of India. Gifting Partners: IGP.com; The Mind and Company, Plum, Clay Capital. To learn more about the ET Soonicorns Summit, visit the website To register now, click here