The World Trade Center (WTC) Mumbai proudly launched its highly anticipated Incubation and Accelerator Center yesterday, marking a significant milestone in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the city. Rahul Education has been named the official knowledge partner for this initiative, aiming to nurture startups and empower India’s youth to shape the future of global business.
The launch ceremony commenced with the lighting of the lamp led by Ms. Priya Pansare, Director of Trade and Investment Promotion at WTC Mumbai. Ms. Pansare warmly welcomed everyone and spoke passionately about the center's mission to support startups across sectors. She highlighted the vast global network of WTC over 320 centers across 96 countries, and how this platform will connect startups with resources, mentors, and markets worldwide. “India’s youth have the power and creativity to transform global business and this center will serve as a critical stepping stone for their success,” she affirmed.
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of WTC Mumbai, reflected on the inspiration behind this initiative, sharing that the idea stemmed from his visit to the incubation center in the Netherlands. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, skill development, and timely delivery in scaling entrepreneurial ventures.
Dr. Kalantri also connected these efforts with the larger national vision of achieving a $40 trillion economy by 2047 and a $1 trillion Maharashtra economy by 2030, calling on everyone to contribute to this transformative journey.
Shri Narendra Ramesh Patil Lodha, Maharashtra’s Minister of Skill Development, addressed the gathering with enthusiasm about the role of innovation, skill development, and entrepreneurship as vital drivers of economic growth. He praised Dr. Kalantri’s leadership and spotlighted the recently unveiled Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025. The policy aims to create 125,000 entrepreneurs and recognize 50,000 startups over the next five years. With a substantial Rs 500-crore Maha-Fund and development of incubation infrastructure, including the ambitious Maharashtra Innovation City.
Representing Rahul Education, Mr. Mayur Dubey spoke passionately about the convergence of education and innovation, calling this partnership a historic moment where knowledge meets opportunity. Highlighting Rahul Education’s extensive presence with over 65 institutions and 70,000 students across Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, he emphasized that with more than 1,100 incubators and 170,000 startups nationally, collaboration, not competition, is key to success. Ms. Keerthi Dubey added that Rahul Education expressed pride in being the knowledge partner of this visionary initiative, underscoring the center’s role in nurturing small and medium enterprises to scale, securing investments, and facilitating cross-border opportunities. She envisioned the center as a “dream factory” where leadership, innovation, and startup success stories will flourish, opening doors for Indian startups on the global stage across sectors ranging from agriculture to aerospace.
Acclaimed economist and educationist Dr. Narendra Jadhav brought attention to the country’s demographic dividend, reminding the audience that with a median age of 29, India’s youth represent a tremendous opportunity but only if equipped with the right skills and education. “This incubation center will help unlock the potential of young talent by offering exposure, guidance, and a seamless platform conducive to growth,” he said.
Mr. Ramanan Ramanathan, Advisor and Board Member for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, praised the government’s push towards fostering creativity through innovation policies like Atal Innovation Mission and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He noted India’s rapid rise on the Global Innovation Index from 81 to 40 in the last ten years, projecting that with institutions like this center, India is poised to break into the top 10 in the near future.
Mr. Rajendra Ramdas Bhinge, Director of Antennae Ventures Pvt. Ltd., reiterated the significance of incubation and acceleration in transforming innovative ideas into successful enterprises. “From ideation to implementation, centers like this are essential for India’s startup ecosystem, currently the third largest in the world, to thrive,” he stated.
The event was further enriched by the presence of dignitaries including Mr. Toshihiro Kaneko, Chief Deputy Consul General of Japan; Mr. Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid, Consul and Deputy Head of Mission of Norway; Mr. CN Chaturvedi (Managing Partner at Chaturvedi Sohan & Co.); Ms. Maya Shahani (Chairperson, Shahani Group; Trustee, HSNC Board); Mr. Chinthan Ojha; Mr. Vinit Jain (CEO at Antennae Ventures), and Ms. Krishna Tiwari (Jt. Secretary at RahulEducation) who collectively acknowledged the challenges startups face and stressed the strength that comes from India’s multi-generational entrepreneurial mindset.
With this launch, WTC Mumbai’s Incubation and Accelerator Center sets a bold new benchmark in nurturing the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs, aligning perfectly with India’s vision of becoming a global innovation powerhouse.