Bhopal, India – In a stirring address at the MP Startup Summit 2026, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav captivated the audience by weaving together India’s ancient scientific heritage with the modern prowess of startups. Declaring startups as the nation’s true strength, Yadav urged entrepreneurs to draw inspiration from the country’s storied past to fuel future innovations.
The summit, a flagship event aimed at positioning Madhya Pradesh as India’s startup hub, saw Yadav delve into historical milestones. He recounted how ancient Indian sages pioneered concepts like zero, Ayurveda, and advanced metallurgy, long before the world caught up. ‘Our ancestors didn’t just dream; they built empires of knowledge,’ he emphasized, linking these feats to today’s digital revolution.
Yadav spotlighted Madhya Pradesh’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, boasting over 1,200 registered startups and ambitious plans to triple that number by 2026. Government initiatives like the Startup Policy 2025 offer seed funding, incubators, and tax incentives, he noted. ‘Madhya Pradesh is not just landlocked; it’s opportunity-locked no more,’ quipped the CM, announcing a Rs 500 crore venture fund exclusively for local innovators.
The event buzzed with panel discussions, pitch sessions, and networking galore. Industry leaders from Bengaluru and Hyderabad mingled with Bhopal’s fresh talent, forging partnerships that promise to reshape sectors like agritech, healthtech, and cleantech. Yadav concluded with a call to action: ‘Let us script the next chapter of India’s glory – one startup at a time.’ As applause echoed, the summit solidified MP’s commitment to becoming a Rs 1 lakh crore startup economy by decade’s end.