DITE & C launches Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 to drive tech innovation

Goa Khabar : The Startup & IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, is set to launch the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 (GOIC 2025) on March 28, 2025, under the leadership of the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Printing and Stationery, Government of Goa Rohan Khaunte, and in the presence of Hon’ble MLA and Chairman of Info Tech Corporation Goa, Dr. Chandrakant Shetye.

This two-month program aims to bring together startups, students, government bodies and industry to develop technology-driven solutions for key challenges in sectors such as Tourism, Waste Management, Agriculture, NABARD, GPSC and Industry.

The launch event will feature two expert-led masterclasses designed to equip startups with essential insights. “Preparing for Your Fundraising Journey” by Mr. Sachin Karnik, Former President of Mumbai Angel Networks and Founder of The Great Unicorn Hunt, will cover key aspects of fundraising, including the pitfalls and upsides of fundraising, timing the fundraise, understanding fundraising jargon, valuation drivers in real scenarios, shareholder agreement considerations, and negotiation tools for valuation mismatches.​

 “Compliances Made Easy for Early-Stage Startups” by Mr. Sridhar Subramanian, a finance veteran with experience at Coca-Cola and Capillary Technologies, as well as an angel investor, will focus on simplifying compliance processes for startups.

Additionally, a panel discussion on “Building Scalable Startups from Goa” will bring together industry leaders with firsthand experience in scaling businesses. The panelists will include Mr. Anand Prabhudessai, Co-Founder of Turtlemint, a leading Insurtech startup backed by investors such as Sequoia Capital and Nexus Venture Partners; Mr. Prasad Vanga, Founder & CEO of Anthill Ventures, a speed-scaling investment platform supporting startups in sectors like Media & Entertainment, HealthTech, UrbanTech, and Consumer Brands; Mr. Eshan Sharma, from Renevik Solar, a prominent solar energy company specializing in solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors; Mr. Rahat Kulshreshtha, Co-Founder of Quidich Innovation Labs, a company at the forefront of sports broadcasting and filming, integrating AR, AI, and ML with collaborations including ICC, IPL, and Netflix; and Mr. Sumit Mitra, President – International Sales & Marketing at Molbio Diagnostics, representing Goa’s unicorn, a pioneering molecular diagnostics company revolutionizing healthcare accessibility.

Together, these experts will share insights on startup growth and scaling and the opportunities and challenges of scaling from Goa. The discussion will be Moderated by Ms Varsha Adusumilli, Author, Investor, Advisor.

The official launch of GOIC 2025 will include the launch of the website, and an overview of the problem statements that could be solved using technology by Mr. D S Prashant, CEO of the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), Government of Goa.

The Department, through the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025, aims to drive innovation, create new opportunities, and strengthen Goa’s position as a leading technology hub by providing the critical market access for startups thus supporting the growth of the startup ecosystem.