Startup Culture Takes Flight in Chhattisgarh: Successful Techstars Startup Weekend, Youth Gain Global Platform

Rajpur, 10 December 2025/ In a historic move, the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh has taken steps to strengthen the foundation of youth innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup culture. With the collaboration of world-class startup accelerator Techstars, the district administration of Dhamtari and the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare successfully organized a three-day Techstars Startup Weekend Dhamtari from 28 to 30 November 2025. The event was held for the first time in a non-metropolitan district of the state, giving Dhamtari a new identity as an emerging startup hub. The Startup Weekend saw more than 100 young participants, 50 potential startup teams, 20 experienced mentors, and over 10 investors. Participants were trained to work continuously for 54 hours, turning their ideas into investment-ready models, building business models, product development, market analysis, pitch deck creation and scaling techniques. Mentors gave special guidance on startup ideas in technology, food processing, agri‑innovation, healthcare, e‑commerce, tourism, digitization and entertainment sectors. Several innovative ideas became the focus of investors’ particular interest. The district administration’s initiative—targeting the establishment of Dhamtari on the startup map District Collector Shri Abinash Mishra, calling the event a milestone for Dhamtari’s innovation ecosystem, said our aim is for the youth of Dhamtari to have all startup facilities and opportunities available here, just like in large cities. The Startup Weekend proved that the youth here are not only creative but also capable of competing on a global level. This event will continue every year, establishing a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem in the district. AIIC Mahindra’s CEO and program facilitator Shri Ismail Akbani described it as the largest and most organized startup weekend so far in Chhattisgarh. Global accelerator Techstars benefits local talent When giving information about Techstars, founder of Vikasgarh, Shri Meraj Mir, mentioned that this platform, which has been accelerating startups worldwide since 2006, is now reaching Dhamtari’s youth directly, giving them extensive networking and investment opportunities. The district administration said that such events will continue regularly in Dhamtari to institutionalize the startup culture. This will provide continuous mentorship, funding exposure, and business networking for the youth.