Mehsana, Gujarat | July 26, 2025 — In a historic move toward decentralising India’s startup ecosystem, BharatNext Accelerator – Cohort, the country’s first dedicated startup acceleration program for Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns and villages, was launched today in Mehsana. Spearheaded by the District Administration of Mehsana, in collaboration with BharatNext Accelerator (under Amrit Mehsana Startup & Innovation Mission), i-Hub (a Gujarat Government enterprise), and NAMO i-Hub, this initiative marks a defining moment in India’s journey toward inclusive entrepreneurship.
Crafted with the support of leading ecosystem players like Marwari Catalysts, CSRBOX, iSTEM, and various academic and private sector partners, BharatNext has selected 50 high-potential startups from over 515 applicants. This cohort will benefit from tailored acceleration support, local ecosystem linkages, and mentorship—laying the foundation for a bottom-up innovation movement across India.
The hybrid-format launch event was graced by Shri Rushikesh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Health, Law, and Higher Education, Government of Gujarat, who emphasised the need to unlock the innovation potential of small towns. He applauded Mehsana’s former visionary District Collector, M. Nagarajan, for transforming the district into a model venture studio through India’s first district-level Innovation Hub. “We are not chasing imported ideas anymore,” said Shri Patel. “We are building local solutions for global problems—and we’re doing it from the grassroots.”
Echoing this sentiment, Sumeet Jarangal, Director at Startup India, underscored that real startup growth must move beyond urban metros. “If we truly want to fulfill the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, Bharat—not just India—must lead the startup movement,” he said. He further announced that district-level innovation initiatives like BharatNext will now become part of Startup India’s State Startup Ranking Framework, encouraging other states to replicate Mehsana’s model.
“At Mehsana, we pioneered India’s first district-level Innovation Hub and transformed it into a venture studio model—putting our youth and startups at the center of development,” says M. Nagarajan, Vice Chairman & MD, Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), who previously served as Mehsana’s District Collector.
He emphasised the importance of building “software before hardware”—fostering innovation culture first before infrastructure. Through BharatNext, Nagarajan believes a replicable district model has been created—connecting local talent to real opportunities and contributing to India’s goal of becoming a startup nation by 2047.
“With the support of our ministers, institutions, accelerators, and student community, Mehsana is showing India how to build an inclusive startup nation from the grassroots up. The time for India’s districts to lead its startup revolution is now,” he added.
With Tier 2 and 3 India now in focus, BharatNext is more than just an accelerator—it’s a blueprint for how districts can serve as innovation labs, venture studios, and economic engines for New India. The program stands as a testament to how cross-sector collaboration—between administration, academia, industry, and startups—can build an inclusive and scalable startup nation by 2047.
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