Bengaluru : Following the launch of PRARAMBH, India’s largest incubation cohort, AIC BIMTECH, part of BIMTECH, organised the Gen-Next Founder Connect 2025, sending a strong message that today, founders choose their investors—not the other way around. The event brought together 70+ AIC-BIMTECH incubated startup founders and investors managing over ₹1,000 crore in funds under one roof, making the total gathering approximately 100 attendees.
Held at the AIC BIMTECH campus in Greater Noida and supported by AIM NITI Aayog and Startin UP, the event followed a founder-first, high-energy format under the theme “Brunch, Boost and Build”, creating a powerful platform for meaningful founder–investor engagement.
The event featured an illustrious lineup of 10+ investors who engaged directly with founders. The panel included Rajesh Ranjan (O2 Angels Network), Amar Dixit (SwiftSeed Ventures), Ritesh Anand (Ah Ventures), Karan Saini (RTAF), Ishant Sachdeva (B and S Ventures), Piyush Garg (Angel Investor), Kshitiz Anand (Karekeba Ventures), Chandan Tiwari (EDC India) and AIC BIMTECH’s alumni-turned-investors Ishu Bansal (Truck Suvidha) and Ankit and Atul Tripathi (Uneako). They provided unfiltered insights into their investment theses and the non-financial support they bring to the table.
“This gathering tried to help the dilemma by focusing on empowering founders with the right insights from investors, helping them understand the right approach and identify the right investors who can keep up with them,” said Mr. Surya Kant, CEO of AIC BIMTECH. “After launching PRARAMBH, India’s biggest incubation cohort, we are now redefining engagement. We’re building a founder-centric ecosystem where access, choice and empowerment drive real growth, directly contributing to Viksit Bharat and Viksit UP 2047.”
Dr. Prabina Rajib, Director, BIMTECH, said, “The focus of Gen-Next Founder Connect 2025 was to develop an actual connection between investors and entrepreneurs, as opposed to just “instant funding”. Instead of announcing any immediate funding deals, it is estimated that over 20 of the participating companies will receive funding within the next 3-6 months; in addition to these, HealthTech has been identified as the most promising industry for investors. Currently, AIC BIMTECH has assisted over 500 startup businesses in reaching their full potential through their program and hopes to increase this to over 700 by 2026.”
The event highlighted AIC BIMTECH’s explosive growth. In six months, it has onboarded a record 100+ new startups, with the PRARAMBH cohort alone comprising 55 ventures beyond the ideation stage. The centre’s total portfolio now exceeds 500+ startups, collectively creating 5,000+ jobs and generating ₹125+ crore in revenue across 20+ international markets. This reach is strengthened by its pivotal role in the MeitY Startup Hub’s GENESIS program, championing grassroots innovation. The event was executed with the support of StartupNews.fyi, which is run by Madhur Mohan Mallik.
The conclave facilitated deep-dive networking, strategic Q&As and a relationship-building approach, focusing on long-term roadmaps over quick pitches. Supported by StartInUP, MeitY, DPIIT-Startup India and MSME, AIC BIMTECH is building robust bridges that convert pioneering ideas into viable, investment-ready businesses, accelerating India’s journey to a developed economy.
Gen Next Founders Connect went beyond pitch decks, making the theme “Brunch Boost and Build” accessible and impactful. Startups engaged in candid discussions, detailed Q&As and focused networking that helped them understand investor expectations and long-term growth pathways rather than relying on quick elevator pitches.
