District Incubation Hub (DIH), Durg | 15–17 January 2026
The District Incubation Hub (DIH), Durg, supported by TISS Incube Foundation, successfully organized the National Startup Day Celebrations 2026 from 15th to 17th January 2026 at Govt. V.Y.T. PG Autonomous College, Durg. The three-day event served as a dynamic platform for fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening local ecosystem linkages, and promoting innovation among youth and emerging startups.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Principal, Govt. V.Y.T. PG Autonomous College, Durg, and brought together students, startups, faculty members, ecosystem enablers, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and institutional stakeholders.
Startup Exhibition
A key highlight of the celebration was the two-day Startup Exhibition (15–16 January), featuring 15 stalls representing a diverse spectrum of ventures, including women-led enterprises, technology startups, student innovation models, food-based enterprises, and a Self-Help Group (SHG). The exhibition witnessed enthusiastic participation and significant footfall from school and college students, providing valuable exposure, market connect, and networking opportunities to participating startups.
Mentorship, Industry Interface & Ecosystem Strengthening
The event featured structured engagements including awareness sessions, motivational talks by successful founders, interactive discussions, and one-to-one mentoring sessions. Experts associated with premier institutions and professionals with international exposure provided practical insights and strategic guidance to participating startups.
Industry interaction sessions and networking meets facilitated collaboration, partnership exploration, and strengthened market linkages. A more integrated framework for investment facilitation, financial advisory support, and industry connect emerged as a key outcome of the celebrations—reflecting TISS Incube Foundation’s sustained efforts in building a robust and inclusive local startup ecosystem.
Special Guest Address
The event was also graced by Mr. Vinay Jaju, Co-founder and Managing Director of SwitchON Foundation, and a leader in sustainable enterprises across clean energy, agriculture, and skilling sectors. With extensive experience across India and internationally, Mr. Jaju engaged with local startups and ecosystem enablers, sharing insights on building impact-driven and sustainable enterprises.
Concluding Session
The celebrations concluded on 17th January 2026 with a large-scale awareness programme highlighting existing institutional support systems available for comprehensive entrepreneurial development in the region. Eminent speakers included:
The National Startup Day Celebrations 2026 at DIH, Durg mark a significant milestone in nurturing entrepreneurial aspirations among youth and strengthening institutional convergence for startup growth. The initiative reaffirms TISS Incube Foundation’s commitment to enabling inclusive, sustainable, and regionally anchored entrepreneurship ecosystems.
