New Delhi ,Ministry of Tribal Affairs marked a significant milestone in empowering tribal entrepreneurship by showcasing 45 tribal-led startups from across India at the StartupMahakumbh held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Organized under the flagship initiative “DhartiAabaTribepreuners 2025” as part of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, the event witnessed innovation from sectors ranging from deep tech to organic farming and green energy.

Two tribal-led startups, incubated at premier institutions—IIM Kolkata and IIT Guwahati—received prestigious national recognition from Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, affirming the growing role of tribal entrepreneurs in India’s startup ecosystem.

On this achievement, Shri JualOram, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, and Shri VibhuNayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, congratulated the winning startups for their exemplary innovation and dedication to community-led development. They commended the efforts of all participating entrepreneurs for representing the aspirations and potential of tribal India on a national platform.

Award-Winning Startups founded by ST entrepreneurs

OurGuest Travels (Top View Pvt. Ltd.)

Incubated at IIM Kolkata | Sector: Sustainable Tourism

Based in Gangtok, Sikkim, OurGuest Travels (www.ourguest.in) was conferred the D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) Award. As the first Online Travel Aggregator (OTA) from Northeast India, it offers a curated collection of homestays, farmstays, resorts, and guided experiences across Sikkim, North Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.With over 600 homestays and 50+ guides, the platform has served more than 6,000 travelers and supports rural livelihoods and eco-tourism. This recognition is a key milestone under the Ministry’s 100-Day Agenda to build a strong tribal startup ecosystem.

Ngurie Organic Pvt. Ltd.

Incubated at IIT Guwahati | Sector: AgriTech& Organic Farming

Ngurie Organic received the AgriTech Award for its transformative work in sustainable agriculture. The startup harnesses data-driven research, precision agriculture, and blockchain-enabled transparency to empower farmers with solutions that:

• Reduce water usage
• Improve soil health
• Increase crop yields
• Promote environmental sustainability
• Strengthen food security
  🔗 Website: https://ngurie.com

Exclusive Sessions on Tribal Entrepreneurship by VC /Angel Investors

The event featured a high-impact panel titled "Investing in Bharat: Unlocking Startup Potential Beyond the Metro", with thought leaders from India’s startup and investment ecosystem

• T. RoumuanPaite, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Afafirs
• Vikram Gupta, IvyCap Ventures
• Sandeep NagbhushanAithal, Infosys Ltd.
• Vineet Khurana, SACC India
• Moderator: Amit Pandey, IVCA

In addition, faculty from IIT Delhi conducted a Design Thinking Workshop, guiding tribal startups to refine and scale their business ideas.

 Empowering the Next Generation of Tribal Entrepreneurs

The 3-day program concluded with the distribution of participation certificates to:45 tribal startup founders,100 EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential School) students,150 tribal students availing higher education scholarships.

Participants also took part in a bootcamp at IIT Delhi and attended exposure visits across the startup ecosystem during the StartupMahakumbh.

Towards a Self-Reliant Tribal India

 Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through initiatives like DhartiAabaTribepreuners 2025, continues to create an enabling environment for tribal innovators—combining mentorship, funding, capacity building, and platform exposure. The presence and recognition of tribal entrepreneurs at India’s largest startup conclave reaffirms the Ministry’s commitment to making tribal India a key stakeholder in the nation’s growth story.

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RN/PIB