Goa’s startup ecosystem received national recognition at IdeaBaaz Startup Fest 2026, with Goan entrepreneurs showcasing their ventures, connecting with investors and industry leaders, and receiving recognition for their work during the five-day festival at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The participation was supported by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, through the Startup and IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), providing 9 startups from the state with an opportunity to showcase their ventures, explore business and funding opportunities, and build connections beyond Goa.
Six Goa-based startups — KAVACH Infra Solutions LLP (Fire Safety & Disaster), Reclevo Infotech Pvt. Ltd. (Climate Tech), BARSCALE (AI/ML & DeepTech), Vindaloo Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (OTT & Digital Media), Festa Craft Global Pvt. Ltd. (Marine Manufacturing & Shipbuilding) and MYPET-OPD (Animal Healthcare) — presented their ventures before investors and an eminent jury as part of the IdeaBaaz Startup Competition.
The festival also saw several Goan founders receive awards and felicitations for their entrepreneurial work. Pratik Prakash Shirodkar, Founder and CEO of Bizzigo; Samuel Timothy and Rebekah Lobo, Founders of MajheApp; Vishal Robertson, Co-Founder and CEO of MyOwnBrews; Dr. Ajay Shanbhag of WherNxt; and Joydeep Rakshit, CEO of TAWAI Studio, were among the founders honoured during the festival.
D. S. Prashant, CEO, Startup and IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), was also felicitated during the event for his contribution towards strengthening Goa’s startup ecosystem. In a special recognition of young entrepreneurship, students of Classes IX and X from Union High School, Chimbel, Tiswadi, who developed the startup PRANA, were felicitated under Junior IdeaBaaz.
Reflecting on the experience, D. S. Prashant, CEO, SITPC, said, “IdeaBaaz at Bharat Mandapam was a truly enriching experience that brought together innovative ideas, inspiring conversations and opportunities to connect and learn. A special and heartfelt thank you to Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Tourism, Printing & Stationery, Government of Goa for his vision, initiative, and decision to create such a meaningful platform and provide us with the opportunity to be part of Ideabaaz. Initiatives like these open new avenues for collaboration, innovation, and growth, and it was a privilege to experience and contribute to it. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa for his continued support and for providing us with this wonderful opportunity.”
Pratik Prakash Shirodkar, Founder and CEO of Bizzigo, said, “The experience at IdeaBaaz was really great. As startups, we are always on the lookout for good networking opportunities, and IdeaBaaz was really good at that. A big plethora of investors, innovators and startup enthusiasts really made us believe that startup culture is thriving and here to stay. The amount of support received from everyone here definitely did bring a smile on all of our faces. We thank the Startup and IT Promotion Cell, Goa, for its continued support and for providing us with platforms to grow and thrive. We also thank Minister Rohan Khaunte for his constant encouragement and support towards strengthening Goa’s startup ecosystem.”
The founders of MajheApp, Samuel Timothy and Rebekah Lobo, who participated in IdeaBaaz Startup Competition stated, “It was an honour to showcase Goa’s first SuperApp on such a grand national stage as part of the official Goa Government delegation. We were thrilled to be recognised as one of the Top 5 Startups from Goa. The fest gave us the privilege to interact with renowned mentors, sharpen our pitching skills and understand multiple funding pathways. These insights will help shape MajheApp’s investor strategy and growth roadmap.”
The participation at IdeaBaaz reflects the Government of Goa’s continued efforts to create opportunities for startups to gain national visibility, access investors and industry networks, and explore avenues for growth and collaboration beyond the state.
