·  100+ startups showcased at Goa Market Access Expo 2025

·  Rs 3.9 Cr in incentives disbursed to 147 startups

·  New schemes like Drone Didi boost inclusive innovation

With more than 100 handpicked startups presenting their innovations, the Goa Market Access Expo 2025 became a milestone moment in the state's journey towards becoming India's Creative and Innovation Capital. Organized by the Startup and IT Promotion Cell (SITPC) under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITEC), Government of Goa, the event became an influential coming together of startups, industry stalwarts, and top government functionaries.

The Expo was inaugurated by Hon'ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, in the presence of Minister for Tourism, ITE&C and Printing & Stationery Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, Chief Secretary Dr. V Candavelou, DITEC Director Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Infotech Corporation MD Shri Praveen Volvotkar, and SITPC CEO Shri D S Prashant.

Addressing the opening session, Dr. Pramod Sawant noted Goa's increasing alignment with national innovation initiatives like Startup India and Digital India. "Goa has 635 DPIIT-registered startups, and Rs 3.9 crore incentives have already been paid to 147 entrepreneurs. We are focusing on mentorship, market access, and momentum the three MSPs for startup success," he stated. The state is also establishing a Global Capability Center, which will offer infrastructure and regulatory services for IT companies and startups to grow effortlessly.

The Expo's central message was clear: Goa isn't only fostering innovation; it's creating a cause-driven startup ecosystem.

Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister, echoed this vision. “Goa’s ambition is to become India’s Creative Capital. This Expo reveals the quality of talent and innovation emerging from the state. We’re creating not just a startup hub, but a space where purpose meets progress.”

A fireside session with Arjun Sagar, Founder at COCO LENI, highlighted Goa's cultural and entrepreneurial appeal. "Goa is the creative space. I wouldn't have created my startup elsewhere," he averred. During a session, 'Living the Startup Life, Differently: Why Founders Are Choosing Goa', startup founders referred to Goa as a new form of 'Social Capital' a place where community, ideas, and values converge.

Also Read: PhonePe Taps Global Investment Banks Ahead of $1.5 Billion IPO

The government also leveraged the moment to highlight future-facing initiatives. Minister Khaunte highlighted some of the prominent digital initiatives like Digital Mahila Sashaktikaran and Drone Didi, which are focused on empowering women in technology-led jobs, including drone farming operations. AI-driven chatbots on Goa Online are also making citizen services more efficient highlighting the state's determination towards innovation that is accessible to all.

A guided Expo visit by Dr. Sawant and Shri Khaunte provided the participating startups with a precious opportunity to interact with policymakers one-on-one. Top officials from departments like Transport, Forest, Ports, Skill Development, South Goa District Administration, and Electrical Engineering participated in the discussion creating a rich soil for pilot projects and public-private collaborations.

Through this platform, the Goa Market Access Expo 2025 provided startups with not only visibility, but real opportunities for testing and collaboration with government departments. It was a living testament to the state's sustained effort on policy-enabled innovation, inclusive growth, and ecosystem development.

As Goa gears up its startup revolution, the Expo was more than a stage it was a declaration of purpose. A promise to build fertile, thriving soil for founders to envision, establish, and succeed. A reassertion that Goa is not merely a place it's a launchpad for the next wave of innovation.