Can the Summit Position India as a Leading AI Player Globally?
Synopsis
The ‘AI Impact Summit 2026’ aims to elevate India's global status in AI, as stated by Anna Roy of NITI Aayog. The summit will support 150 women-led AI startups with mentorship and resources, fostering a comprehensive ecosystem for female entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaways
AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to enhance India's global AI position.
Support for 150 women-led AI startups through mentorship.
Transparency in the evaluation process for startup selection.
WEP's role in fostering a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.
Focus on creating inclusive and responsible AI.
New Delhi, Feb 17 (NationPress) The ‘AI Impact Summit 2026’ aims to serve as a platform to establish India's status as a prominent player in the global AI landscape, stated Anna Roy, Mission Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and Programme Director at NITI Aayog.
During the event, she introduced a specialized capacity-building initiative for 150 selected women-led AI startups. This program will offer structured mentorship and networking opportunities in collaboration with ecosystem partners, emphasizing that achieving entrepreneurial success necessitates comprehensive support across all aspects.
In a conversation with IANS, she revealed that they received over 800 applications for this challenge. “Initially, we conducted an internal review, followed by 63 virtual panels,” she explained.
“We employed a highly transparent evaluation process, managed end-to-end by EY. All assessments were conducted online and remained completely anonymous,” she added.
During a session titled ‘Access to Acceleration: How WEP Supports Women Founders’, Roy detailed WEP’s commitment to creating a robust ecosystem for women entrepreneurs — from aspiration to scaling their ventures.
“Our vision at WEP is empowerment - Shakti - where we facilitate behavioral change, provide timely access to essential knowledge, and support women entrepreneurs from initial dreams to scalable enterprises,” said Roy.
She also announced the top 10 winners: Able Credit, Aso AI, Power Lifeline, Veryfi Technologies, Project Drives, Prosigo Language, Videos HR, That Creating, Water Ultra AR, and Zico AR, congratulating them for their remarkable performance in the evaluation stages.
Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog, expressed her enthusiasm for the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’, which is dedicated to realizing AI's immense potential for impact on a global scale.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ‘India AI Impact Expo 2026’, she emphasized that this is India's opportunity to influence the future of AI.
The 'AI By HER Global Impact Challenge', a cornerstone initiative of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, gathered women innovators, founders, researchers, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders for a day filled with discussions and startup showcases aimed at creating impact-first, inclusive, and responsible AI.
Point of View
The initiative led by NITI Aayog represents a significant step towards fostering inclusivity in the tech industry. Emphasizing women's empowerment in AI aligns with broader global trends, ensuring India remains competitive in this vital sector, while providing essential support for female entrepreneurs.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AI Impact Summit 2026?
The AI Impact Summit 2026 aims to position India as a global leader in AI by providing support and resources to women-led AI startups.
How many startups are being supported?
The summit will support 150 women-led AI startups with a dedicated capacity-building program.
What is the 'AI By HER Global Impact Challenge'?
It is a flagship program of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, focusing on inclusive and responsible AI development led by women.
How were the winners of the challenge selected?
Winners were chosen through a transparent evaluation process involving internal reviews and virtual panels.
