IMC 2026 to put DeepTech at centre of startup programme ASPIRE

The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 will put DeepTech and frontier technologies at the centre of its startup programme ASPIRE, with a focus on helping startups move from prototypes to market opportunities, investment and scale.

The 10th edition of IMC will be held from October 7-10 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. Organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the event will bring together startups, investors, industry leaders and ecosystem enablers.

ASPIRE, which was launched in 2023, is expected to bring together more than 500 startups and MSMEs and over 300 venture capital firms, angel networks, incubators and corporate innovation firms. The programme will also facilitate more than 700 curated one-on-one meetings between startups and investors.


DeepTech will be a key focus of ASPIRE this year, with sessions covering artificial intelligence, intelligent hardware, connectivity, semiconductors and SpaceTech. The programme will also include masterclasses on intellectual property and legal frameworks, with experts from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).

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Another focus will be helping AI startups move from prototypes to production, the organisers said.

The programme will include ASPIRE Live Pitch-15, where 15 shortlisted startups will pitch to an investor panel, followed by the ASPIRE NextGen Startup Awards across different technology sectors. Investor and mentoring arenas will give founders access to investors and industry mentors, while guided investor tours and speed-pitching sessions will connect investors with early-stage startups.

“India’s next phase of technology growth will depend not only on the strength of our digital infrastructure, but also on our ability to nurture companies that can build globally relevant technologies from India,” Ashok Kumar, deputy director general at the Department of Telecommunications, said.

The wider ASPIRE programme will also feature discussions on enterprise AI, technology leadership, building globally competitive Indian technology companies and the journey from startup to IPO.

Speakers include Alok Bansal, whole-time director and CFO of PolicyBazaar/PaisaBazaar; Nicolas Sauvage, president of TDK Ventures; Parminder Singh, CEO of Reliance Enterprise Intelligence; Amit Jain, co-founder and CEO of CarDekho Group; and Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO of MakeMyTrip.

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IMC 2026 will also host the second edition of Startup World Cup India on October 9. The winner of the India competition will advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, where the winner will compete for a $1 million investment prize.

The organisers expect the 10th edition of IMC to draw more than 1.5 lakh attendees from over 100 countries. The event is also expected to feature more than 300 exhibitors and partners and showcase over 1,500 technology use cases across connectivity, AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity and satellite communications.