Adani's Vande Bharatam picks first cohort from 26,000+ applicants
Synopsis
Over 26,000 Indians applied. Only a select few made it. Adani Group's Vande Bharatam initiative has picked its first cohort of grassroots innovators — spanning agriculture to defence — with a Grand Finale set for 14 August. The real story is whether a conglomerate-backed platform can do what government schemes haven't: reach innovators beyond India's metro startup bubble.
Key Takeaways
The Adani Group has selected the first cohort for its 'Vande Bharatam' entrepreneurship programme after receiving over 26,000 applications .
Applications came from every state and Union Territory across sectors including mobility, agriculture, defence, and healthcare.
Selected innovators will participate in the Vande Bharatam Immersive Week , featuring mentorship and expert interactions.
The programme concludes on 14 August with the Vande Bharatam Grand Finale and trophy presentation.
Gautam Adani said the cohort represents India's future potential and that opportunity must reach innovators beyond major cities.
The Adani Group has selected the inaugural cohort of innovators under its flagship entrepreneurship programme, 'Vande Bharatam', after receiving over 26,000 applications from every state and Union Territory in India. The initiative, launched by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, is designed to identify and nurture grassroots entrepreneurs with the capacity to solve real-world problems and build businesses of national scale.
Who Applied and Who Made It
Applications poured in from across India's diverse geographies, spanning sectors as varied as mobility, sustainability, technology, agriculture, defence, healthcare, manufacturing, and education. The selected participants represent a cross-section of regions, disciplines, and backgrounds — a deliberate signal, according to the group, that the programme is not limited to established startup ecosystems in metros.
Candidates were shortlisted through a multi-stage evaluation process, with the final cohort chosen on the basis of innovation potential and real-world applicability of their ideas.
What the Programme Offers
The selected innovators will now take part in the 'Vande Bharatam Immersive Week', a structured programme featuring mentorship sessions, interactions with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and domain experts, alongside further assessments and development opportunities. The week-long event will conclude on 14 August with the 'Vande Bharatam Grand Finale', where the top innovators will be recognised and presented with the Vande Bharatam Trophy.
What Gautam Adani Said
Speaking on the selection of the first cohort, Gautam Adani said the chosen innovators 'represent the immense potential of India's future.' He noted that talent is not confined to major cities and that opportunities should be equally accessible to innovators from all parts of the country. Adani expressed confidence that members of the inaugural cohort could go on to build companies capable of making a significant contribution to India's growth story.
The Broader Objective
The Adani Group has framed Vande Bharatam as more than a competition. Its stated long-term goal is to create a national platform that identifies promising ideas at an early stage and connects innovators — particularly those outside established entrepreneurial centres — with the mentors, networks, and institutions needed to accelerate growth. This comes amid a broader push by Indian conglomerates to invest in grassroots innovation, at a time when government-led schemes such as Startup India have already brought over 1.4 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups into the fold but are widely seen as more accessible to urban founders.
Whether Vande Bharatam can meaningfully shift resources toward Tier 2 and Tier 3 innovators — and sustain that commitment beyond the inaugural cohort — will be the programme's real test in the years ahead.
Point of View
000-application figure is impressive optics, but the harder question is what happens after the Grand Finale. India's startup ecosystem has a well-documented geography problem — funding, mentorship, and visibility remain concentrated in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. A corporate-backed platform with Adani's network reach could theoretically bridge that gap, but only if the programme commits to sustained post-cohort support rather than a one-time showcase. The initiative's value will be measured not by trophy winners but by how many cohort members are still operating viable businesses two years from now.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Adani Group's Vande Bharatam initiative?
Vande Bharatam is a flagship entrepreneurship programme launched by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani to identify and nurture grassroots innovators from across India. It received over 26,000 applications from every state and Union Territory before selecting its first cohort.
Who is eligible for the Vande Bharatam programme?
The programme is open to innovators from diverse regions, backgrounds, and disciplines across India. It specifically aims to reach entrepreneurs outside established startup hubs in major cities, covering sectors from agriculture and defence to healthcare and education.
What happens during the Vande Bharatam Immersive Week?
The Immersive Week features mentorship sessions, interactions with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and domain experts, along with further assessments. It culminates in the Vande Bharatam Grand Finale on 14 August, where top innovators are recognised and awarded the Vande Bharatam Trophy.
How were participants selected for the first cohort?
Candidates went through a multi-stage evaluation process assessing innovation potential and the real-world applicability of their ideas. The final cohort was drawn from over 26,000 applications submitted from across India.
What is the long-term goal of Vande Bharatam?
The Adani Group has described the initiative as a long-term national platform to identify promising ideas early and connect innovators — especially those outside metro cities — with the mentors, networks, and institutions needed to scale their ventures.
