Lucknow | Leading impact investor Aavishkaar Group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of building a one trillion-dollar state economy at the second Sankalp Bharat Summit, held in Lucknow.
The summit witnessed active participation from over 800 delegates, including startups, MSMEs, development finance institutions (DFIs) and venture capital firms (VCs). The platform facilitated in-depth discussions on identifying, strengthening and scaling key drivers of entrepreneurial success to accelerate inclusive economic growth in the state.
Aavishkaar Group Founder and Vice Chairman Vineet Rai said the group was proud to align with the Chief Minister’s vision of transforming Uttar Pradesh into a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. He noted that by bringing the global Sankalp platform to the state, local and regional startups are being empowered to collaborate and develop solutions with scale, purpose and measurable impact.
The summit was graced by the presence of Alok Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary (Planning) and Anurag Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary (IT & Electronics), whose participation added significance to the discussions. An important voice at the event was also that of Ambassador Gurjit Singh, former Ambassador of India to Germany; Indonesia&Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, Djibouti. AU & ASEAN.
The event saw strong representation from leading development finance institutions such as NABARD, British International Investment, JICA, EIB and GIZ, along with multilateral organisations including the World Bank and UNEP. Philanthropic institutions such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Shakti Foundation also participated, enriching deliberations around India’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem.
A delegation led by U.K. Sinha, Chairman, Aavishkaar Group, Founder and Promoter Vineet Rai, and other members met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to brief him on the discussions held at the summit and the ongoing efforts to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The group also expressed its commitment to establishing a Centre of Excellence for entrepreneurship in eastern Uttar Pradesh and sought the Chief Minister’s support for the initiative.
For entrepreneurs and investors, the summit featured several key initiatives, including the Sankalp Bharat Awards, which honoured enterprises such as Bhoomicam (AI for Impact), ScaNxt (Agritech), Accelero (Climate Tech), Indra Water (Circularity) and FarmDidi (Cultural Enterprise). The Ascend Pitch Sessions showcased startups including Jaggery, Kiniho, The Open Field, Minus CO2 and Unbubble, alongside a dedicated Climate Deal Room.
The summit also recognised established Uttar Pradesh-based companies such as Gyan Dairy, PTC India and Pashupati Group for adopting advanced manufacturing and sustainable practices. Leading investors including Bloom Ventures, Bharat Innovation Fund, Jamwant Ventures, AWE Fund, Aroha Impact, Wavemaker Impact, Shishin Ventures, Fireside Ventures, Incofin India and the Environmental Defense Fund participated in multiple sessions.
Indian cricketer and former Indian Air Force officer Shikha Pandey addressed the gathering, sharing insights on resilience and the role of failure in driving long-term success.
With a strong emphasis on shifting the mindset from job-seeking to job creation, the Aavishkaar Foundation showcased its flagship grassroots entrepreneurship programme covering 21 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Under the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP), 12 student teams from government schools and colleges were honoured, while under the Entrepreneur Investing Programme (EIP), seven local and regional entrepreneurs received awards worth ₹52 lakh.
The Sankalp Bharat Summit concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to collaborate in building a robust, inclusive and innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem aligned with Uttar Pradesh’s trillion-dollar economy vision.
