45 startups display growing tribal entrepreneurship in India

IANS April 6, 2025 282 views

India's tribal entrepreneurship is experiencing a remarkable transformation, with 45 innovative startups showcasing their potential at the Startup Mahakumbh event. Groundbreaking ventures like OurGuest Travels and Ngurie Organic are proving that tribal entrepreneurs can drive significant economic and technological innovation. The event, supported by key government ministers, highlights the growing recognition of tribal talent in India's startup ecosystem. This milestone represents a crucial step towards empowering tribal communities and unlocking their entrepreneurial potential.

"These startups represent the aspirations and potential of tribal India" - Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs
45 startups display growing tribal entrepreneurship in India
New Delhi, April 6: At least 45 startups have showcased the growing role of tribal entrepreneurs in India's startup ecosystem — marking a significant milestone in empowering tribal talent, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs said on Sunday.

Key Points

1

Tribal-led startups receive national recognition at Startup Mahakumbh

2

OurGuest Travels wins first northeast Online Travel Aggregator award

3

Ngurie Organic transforms sustainable agriculture through technology

At the just-concluded 'Startup Mahakumbh' here, two tribal-led startups, incubated at IIM Kolkata and IIT Guwahati, received prestigious national recognition from Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry.

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram 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.

Based in Gangtok, OurGuest Travels was conferred the D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) Award. As the first Online Travel Aggregator (OTA) from northeast, it offers a curated collection of homestays, farmstays, resorts, and guided experiences across Sikkim, North Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

With over 600 homestays and 50+ guides, the platform has served more than 6,000 travellers 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.

Incubated at IIT Guwahati, 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:

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. In addition, faculty from IIT Delhi conducted a design thinking workshop, guiding tribal startups to refine and scale their business ideas.

The three-day programme concluded with the distribution of participation certificates to 45 tribal startup founders,100 EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential School) students and 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 'Startup Mahakumbh' event.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is such an inspiring story! Tribal entrepreneurs bringing innovation while preserving their roots is exactly what India needs. OurGuest Travels sounds amazing - will definitely check them out for my next northeast trip! 🌿
P
Priya M.
While I appreciate the initiative, I hope the government ensures these startups get continuous support beyond just recognition. Many tribal entrepreneurs face infrastructure challenges that need addressing for sustainable growth.
A
Arjun S.
Ngurie Organic using blockchain for agriculture is next-level innovation! Tribal communities have such deep knowledge of sustainable farming - combining that with tech is brilliant. More power to them!
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Sunita P.
As someone from Sikkim, I'm so proud to see OurGuest Travels getting recognition! Their platform has helped my cousin's homestay business grow tremendously. This is real grassroots development in action.
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Vikram J.
The design thinking workshop at IIT Delhi sounds like a game-changer. Tribal entrepreneurs bringing unique perspectives + top-tier technical guidance = magic! Hope to see more such collaborations.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Tribal Entrepreneurship Indian Startups Startup Mahakumbh Piyush Goyal Jual Oram Innovation
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