Union minister Piyush Goyal to headline ET Startup Awards on October 9 in Bengaluru
Goyal has been leading trade negotiations with key partners, including the US, after sealing high-profile deals with the UK, which came into force in July, and the EU, which is expected to take effect early next year. His ministry is also overhauling a raft of laws and regulations to make it easier to do business and to cement India's position as a global manufacturing hub, a push that has…
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will serve as the distinguished guest of honor at the 12th annual The Economic Times Startup Awards, taking place in Bengaluru on October 9. Over 350 influential figures from the startup and technology sectors will convene for the prestigious ceremony, where eight categories will be awarded India's most esteemed entrepreneur awards.
Goyal has been actively engaged in trade negotiations with significant partners, including the United States following the signing of high-profile deals with the UK in July and the European Union, which is anticipated to commence early next year. Under his ministry, efforts are underway to streamline laws and regulations to foster a conducive environment for doing business and solidifying India's status as a global manufacturing center.
This push coincides with an influx of record foreign direct investment (FDI) totaling $94.53 billion in FY26. Since its inception in 2015, the ET Startup Awards has emerged as a benchmark for entrepreneurial success in India. This year's edition arrives during a pivotal phase for India's nascent economy, which is navigating a surge in artificial intelligence advancements and a changing geopolitical landscape as startups embark on a new era characterized by growth, capital discipline, and technological disruption.
Groww, a Bengaluru-based wealthtech platform, emerged as the top winner, claiming the prestigious Startup of the Year award, joining a roster of distinguished past laureates such as Urban Company, Lenskart, Zomato, OfBusiness, Razorpay, Delhivery, and Swiggy. Manu Chandra, co-founder and managing partner at Sauce VC, was honored with the Midas Touch award for his distinguished role as an early-stage consumer-focused investor.
Habuild, an online yoga platform, was recognized with the Bootstrap Champ award, while Varaha, a climate tech startup, secured the Social Enterprise category. For the first time, the Woman Ahead category saw joint winners, with Pallavi Mohadikar, CEO of Palmonas, and Pallavi Shrivastava, CEO of Progcap, taking the top honors. Theranautilus, a deeptech startup, claimed the Top Innovator award, and Armatrix, a vibe coding startup, was named the Best on Campus award winner.
The 11-member jury, chaired by Rishad Premji, executive chairman of Wipro, deliberated for nearly three hours on August 25 to select the winners across these categories. The esteemed panel included Sachin Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart and Navi; Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and CEO of Paytm; Mukesh Bansal, co-founder of Myntra and Curefit; Mithun Sacheti, co-founder of CaratLane; Nandita Sinha, CEO of Swiggy Instamart; Ajit Mohan, Chief Business Officer of Snap Inc.; Irina Ghose, MD of Anthropic India; Paras Chopra, founder of Wingify and Lossfunk; Abhiraj Singh Bhal, co-founder and CEO of Urban Company; and Aryaman Vikram Birla, director of Aditya Birla Group. The Economic Times Startup Awards 2026 is presented by IDFC First Bank.
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