Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s fast-expanding startup ecosystem hit a major milestone with the successful conclusion of Vision Startups Accelerator Pitch Fest 2.0, the state’s biggest funding-focused startup showcase, held in Lucknow. The high-energy event brought together early-stage founders, angel investors, venture capital representatives and mentors, reinforcing Lucknow’s emergence as a serious hub for innovation, ideas and investment.
Organised by the Lucknow-based not-for-profit Vision Startups Accelerator (VisionStartUPs), Pitch Fest 2.0 was hosted at My Place Coworking, which transformed into a buzzing arena of pitches, partnerships and strategic conversations. The event was the brainchild of Sudhanshu Rastogi, Serial Entrepreneur, Angel Investor and Mentor, whose vision has been to build a strong grassroots startup pipeline beyond NCR.
“This was not just about pitching,” said Sudhanshu Rastogi, CEO, Vision Startups Accelerator. “Pitch Fest 2.0 created real opportunities. Founders had meaningful conversations with investors, and several walked away with clear funding and mentorship pathways. Lucknow has proved that serious startup deals can happen here.”
The event was formally inaugurated by Vidushi Vijayvergiya, Founder of Shark Tank-funded startup ISHAK, and Rohit Manglik, Founder of VC-backed edtech startup Edugorilla now rechristened as Infobay.AI, both of whom symbolised Lucknow’s growing credibility in India’s startup landscape.
“Platforms like this are crucial for founders from emerging cities,” said Vidushi Vijayvergiya. “They give visibility, confidence and direct access to capital that can truly change a startup’s trajectory.”
Rohit Manglik echoed the sentiment, stating, “The energy here reflects how far Lucknow’s ecosystem has come. The ideas are ambitious, and the founders are thinking scale from day one.”
Startups from sectors such as agritech, fintech, artificial intelligence, drones, SaaS and consumer technology pitched bold, market-ready ideas. Entrepreneurs like Vidushi Vijayvergiya (ISHAK), Rohit Manglik (InfoBay.AI), Sushank Arora (Nyra) and Mayank Bhaskar (Om Enterprises) were among several founders who engaged deeply with investors and mentors.
D2C and e-commerce expert Sushank Arora, Founder, Startup Mentor and Speaker, highlighted the maturity of the pitches. “Founders showed strong clarity on unit economics, customer acquisition and scalability. Many of these startups are execution-ready, and events like Pitch Fest 2.0 connect smart capital with solid products,” he said.
Adding a global perspective, two AI experts from Silicon Valley conducted focused mentorship sessions, offering insights on emerging technologies, global benchmarks and international scaling strategies. The tightly curated agenda—with pitch sessions, investor matchmaking, mentor clinics and AMA discussions—ensured founders received actionable feedback on valuation, business models and go-to-market plans.
Participants described the event as more than a competition. “This wasn’t just a pitch event—it was a place to learn, collaborate and ideate,” said one founder. “It felt like a true celebration of Uttar Pradesh’s startup spirit.”
With over 18,500 recognised startups in the state, rising women-led ventures and strong government support through initiatives like StartInUP, Pitch Fest 2.0 underlined how cities beyond Noida and Greater Noida—especially Lucknow—are rapidly evolving into high-potential startup hubs.
As the curtains came down, the message was unmistakable: Pitch Fest 2.0 was where ideas met investment, and where Lucknow firmly claimed its place at the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s startup growth story.
