The 12th edition of The Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) gathered India’s leading entrepreneurs, investors, and policy voices in Bengaluru to honor outstanding startups shaping the country’s tech future amid rapid transformation.
- Groww and Meesho highlighted as emerging public market giants
- Focus shifts towards deeptech and long-term innovations
- Elite jury includes top founders and industry leaders
What happened
The 12th ET Startup Awards ceremony took place in Bengaluru, bringing together past and current winners and nominees, alongside key leaders from India’s startup ecosystem. Union Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the gathering, emphasizing government efforts to nurture and expand the country's growing business ecosystem.
Notable honorees included Groww, crowned Startup of the Year, and Meesho, both of which recently went public and now command multi-billion dollar valuations. The awards also recognized advances in deeptech sectors, with leaders from spacetech, AI, and semiconductor startups participating in discussions about the future direction of Indian tech innovation.
Why it matters
The ET Startup Awards serve as a barometer for India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, capturing its milestones and challenges over a decade. This edition highlighted a pivotal transition as startups increasingly aim for sustainable, profitable growth rather than rapid scaling alone.
Additionally, the spotlight on deeptech reflects a strategic shift in the ecosystem toward tackling complex technological challenges requiring longer development timelines and significant capital investment. This evolution aligns with India’s ambitions to become a global hub for advanced technology and hardware innovation.
What to watch next
Industry leaders including Accel partner Prashanth Prakash and CTOs from prominent deeptech startups will be closely watched for insights on India’s hard-tech ambitions and potential breakthroughs in AI, spacetech, and semiconductors as these sectors gain momentum.
The growth trajectories of ETSA winners like Groww and Meesho, especially their adaptation in the public markets, will remain key indicators of how Indian startups manage sustainability alongside expansion. Government policies and investor confidence will also play critical roles in shaping the conditions for the next wave of startup champions.