Goa is building a strong startup ecosystem with access to capital, mentorship and real market opportunities, says Rohan Khaunte

Goa Khabar : As part of its continued efforts to build a robust and supportive startup ecosystem in the state, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, through the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), officially launched the Goa Startup Accelerator (GSA) Programme today. The initiative aims to support startups in their entrepreneurial journey by providing structured mentorship, market access, investment opportunities and growth support.

Held at Novotel, Panaji, the launch brought together startups, ecosystem enablers, industry leaders and government officials for a collaborative and forward-looking engagement.

The event was graced by Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism and Printing & Stationery, along with Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C; Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C; and D.S. Prashant, CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell, DITE&C.

Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Minister Rohan Khaunte said, “Today, Goa is not just known for its quality of life, but for its forward-looking policies and a growing startup ecosystem of 734 DPIIT-registered startups, nearly half of which are women-led. Through the Goa Startup Policy 2025 and its 12 comprehensive schemes, along with initiatives like the Goa Accelerator Program and the Goa Open Innovation Challenge, we are creating an environment where startups have access to capital, mentorship, skills, infrastructure and real market opportunities. The Government is committed to providing every possible resource and support and we encourage our entrepreneurs to leverage these platforms.”

The event commenced with an orientation for the startups registered under the Goa Startup Accelerator Programme. Participants were briefed on the structure and roadmap of the accelerator. The startups also pitched their ideas to experts and interacted with mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.

The Goa Startup Accelerator Programme is a structured five-month initiative designed to provide startups with direction, mentorship and growth support. The programme will run from February to June 2026, culminating in a Demo Day where participating startups will showcase their progress and innovations.

On the occasion, the winners of the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 were felicitated. The startup category winners included, the SOLO Network, Cidroy Technologies LLP and So-AIR. Student category winners included, Suraj Vishwakarma and team from Padre Conceição College of Engineering, Verna; and Shri Dattaprasad Narendra Prabhu and team from Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda. The Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 Report was also released at the hands of the minister.

Winners of the MedTech Hackathon, organised by National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH & Integrative Medicine (NAPCAIM) in collaboration with DITE&C, were also awarded. The winning teams included, Team Biomade, Team My Pallo Friend and Team Kindred Tech.

The programme additionally recognised government and ecosystem enablers for their contributions to Goa’s growing innovation landscape. Those felicitated included Praveen Volvotkar, MD, InfoTech Corporation Ltd; Revati Kumar, CEO, Goa Electronics Limited; Mangirish Salelkar, President, Goa Technology Association; Milind Anvekar, Senior Vice President – India Operations, Open Destinations;  Americo (Ricky) Noronha, Director, Online Productivity Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Vincent Toscano, Managing Partner, Uzoorba Technologies LLP; Prajyot Mainkar, Founder & CEO, SoFueled; Dr. Anil Wali, CEO, BITS BioCyTiH foundation and D. S. Prashant, CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell.

By continuously introducing forward-looking policies, targeted schemes and collaborative platforms, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) is ensuring that startups are fully supported at every stage of growth. Through such initiatives, Goa is steadily strengthening its innovation-driven economy and building a future-ready entrepreneurial ecosystem.