Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave: Transforming Gujarat into a Global Sports Manufacturing Hub

The Honourable Sports Minister, Shri Harsh Sanghavi, has extended an invitation to sports startups across the nation to consider Gujarat as their manufacturing base. This invitation was made during the Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave held at TransStadia University in Ahmedabad on Monday. The conclave aims to transform Gujarat into a global hub for sports manufacturing.

Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave: Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi aims to transform Gujarat into Global Sports Manufacturing Hub

By providing mentorship, funding, and collaboration opportunities, the first-ever sports startup conclave in the nation has positioned Gujarat as a springboard for the growth of sports startups.

Addressing a diverse audience of national sports business leaders, sporting league stakeholders, sports and tech investors, and emerging startup innovators, Minister of State Gujarat – Home, Industries Transport, Youth, Sports, MLA of Surat Shri Harsh Sanghavi said, “Gujarat is proud to be the first state to organize a sports startup conclave. We warmly welcome sports startups to turn their innovative ideas into reality here. As part of our Sports Policy, we are actively working on various policies to establish Gujarat as a sports manufacturing hub.”

The Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave aligns with the Government of Gujarat’s vision for India’s sports growth. The conclave not only highlights India’s potential as a sports manufacturing powerhouse but also stimulates the startup economy ahead of Vibrant Gujarat – India’s premier international investor summit, conceived under the visionary leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Encouraging sports startups to establish their manufacturing bases in Gujarat, the Hon’ble Sports Minister added, “We have created a robust platform for startups and aim to take this engagement to the next level. No matter which state you hail from, we invite you to choose Gujarat for your manufacturing base. We are ready to provide the necessary support and extend not just policy support but also welcome you into our family.”

The conclave is a collaborative effort of the Sports Authority of Gujarat, TransStadia University, and the Sportscom Industry Confederation, supported by Startup India, i-Hub, and other strong incubation setups working with the Gujarat Government to facilitate ‘Next Generation Entrepreneurship’.

Shri Ashwani Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary (I/C) of the Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat, shed light on the conclave’s inception. The notion was introduced by the Government of India during the sports ministers’ conference in Manipur in April and was subsequently proposed to the minister. Six months of dedicated efforts culminated in the successful execution of this Conclave.

The conclave saw participation from a wide range of startups across sports data analytics, technology, sustainable infrastructure, wearable technology, performance platforms, and more. These startups had the chance to actively participate and display their innovations alongside industry leaders.

Over 60 top sports startups registered for the Conclave, with eight being shortlisted for the grand finale pitchbook. A panel of seasoned judges selected the winners, who received a cash prize pool of INR 25 lakhs and an opportunity for mentorship from industry experts.