North India Set to Emerge as a New Startup Hub; Founders to Gain Access to Investment and Mentorship
Initiative aims to make Greater Mohali and Punjab the innovation gateway of North India; Startup Pitch Fest to be held in Chandigarh in August, winners to get a national platform
City Air News
Jul 15, 2026 03:47
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Chandigarh, July 15, 2026: In a significant push to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Punjab and North India, Punjab Angels Network and Ideabaaz have entered into a strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to provide emerging startups in the region with access to investment, mentorship, market linkages, and national visibility. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the Transform-15 event held in Chandigarh.
Under the partnership, the two organisations will identify high-potential startups and connect them with angel investors. They will also jointly organise startup summits, founder bootcamps, demo days, innovation challenges, and university outreach programmes. The initiative will focus on emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), DeepTech, SpaceTech, DefenceTech, AgriTech, HealthTech, ClimateTech, Manufacturing, and Consumer Technology.
Punjab Angels Network Founder Sahil Makkar and Ideabaaz Co-founder Mudit Kumar said the partnership is aimed at positioning Punjab, including Greater Mohali, as the startup and innovation gateway of North India, enabling entrepreneurs to access investment, networking opportunities, and expert guidance comparable to those available in India’s leading startup hubs.
The event was attended by several prominent personalities, including Femina Miss India World 2013 Navneet Kaur Dhillon, Policybazaar and Paisabazaar Chairman Rajeev Gupta, Shuddhi Ayurveda Founder Acharya Manish, along with leading members of the startup and business community.
As part of the collaboration’s immediate roadmap, a Startup Pitch Fest will be organised in Chandigarh in the first week of August. Winning startups will earn direct entry to the Ideabaaz Startup Fest, scheduled from August 26 to 30 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. They may also get an opportunity to feature in Ideabaaz Season 2, a nationally televised startup show.
