गोवा खबर
Goa creates platform for startups to pitch to investors
Goa Khabar : The Goa Startup Accelerator (GSA) Programme, an initiative of the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, through the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), has marked an important milestone, reflecting steady progress in strengthening the state’s startup ecosystem.
Launched on February 12, 2026, the five-month structured accelerator programme has been designed to support startups through focused mentorship, market access and growth opportunities.
The programme witnessed an encouraging response, with over 160 applications received, out of which 45 startups were shortlisted for the accelerator. Over the past few weeks, these startups have undergone a series of focused sessions covering key areas such as business model refinement, product-market fit, technology integration, scaling strategies and investor readiness.
As part of this phase, a first milestone demo day was held on March 30 and March 31, 2026, bringing together around 41 startups who presented their ventures. The startups shared insights into their ideas, innovations and the progress made through the programme, highlighting the diverse and technology-driven solutions emerging from Goa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Following the presentations, 26 startups have been selected to move ahead to the next stage of the programme. The evaluation and selection process was carried out by a distinguished panel of jury members composed of investors and Industry experts.
Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C, highlighted that the Goa Startup Accelerator Programme is a first-of-its-kind initiative for the state, designed to provide structured and sustained support to startups. The strong response and the quality of participation reflect the growing entrepreneurial energy in Goa, and the department remains committed to enabling startups through the right ecosystem, guidance and opportunities.
One of the Industry experts Shri. Indraneil Borkakoty, while sharing his perspective on the programme, stated that the overall quality of startups and the ideas presented over the two days have been extremely encouraging. He noted that the innovative use of technology across sectors reflects strong potential and expressed confidence in seeing many more such innovators emerging from Goa.
Shri. Gaurav Pokle, Founder and Director, Reclevo Pvt. Ltd, while sharing his experience, stated “Having been in business for several years and having built ventures previously, I chose to be part of this process because it offered an opportunity to learn and engage with industry experts. The interaction provided valuable insights into the mindset required to build and sustain a startup, along with the reality checks that are essential at every stage of growth. I would also like to thank Hon’ble Minister for IT Shri Rohan A. Khaunte for ensuring that the startup ecosystem in Goa remains inclusive. The initiative has evolved to support not only startups with developed products, but also those at the idea stage, giving aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence and encouragement to take their first step.”
Through such initiatives, DITE&C continues to strengthen Goa’s innovation-driven ecosystem and support startups at every stage of their growth journey.
