FLO Bangalore, under the leadership of Chairperson Ms. Dekyi Yangtso Chawla, organized the National Startup Conclave on March 11, 2026, at Prestige Falcon Towers, Bengaluru. The conclave celebrated women-led startups and entrepreneurship in India and provided a platform to FLO members for collaboration. The initiative aligned with India’s broader vision of building a robust startup ecosystem supported by policy, innovation, and collaboration.
The conclave brought together dynamic women entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, and innovators, creating a platform for a meaningful dialogue and knowledge sharing. It was held under the FLO Startup Cell, led by the Initiative head, Ms. Priya Goutham, and Co-Chair, Archana Khosla Burman.
The following were the guest speakers at the National Startup Conclave 2026 who have built impactful ventures across sectors such as technology, health, sustainability, consumer products, and education.
- Anuradha Agarwala – Operator, VC and Early-Stage Investor, Dexter Ventures.
- Aparameya Radhakrishnan – Co-founder and CEO at Koo, a serial entrepreneur who previously Co-founded TaxiForSure & later sold to OLA.
- Shalini Prakash – Early-Stage Investor, Life Coach & Author, Clueless at 30.
- Nithya Subramanian – Senior Director, Data & AI CoE, Best Buy.
- Sachin Bansal, Co-founder of Flipkart.
Key Highlights From Conclave
- Showcasing Women-Led Innovation
The conclave featured emerging women entrepreneurs who presented innovative business models across sectors, highlighting the diversity and potential of women-led ventures. The conclave brought together 200+ FLO members, entrepreneurs, and students for a day of learning, inspiration, and celebration of women entrepreneurship. The conclave spotlighted women entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.
- Expert Panel Discussions
Industry leaders and experts led panel discussions at the National Startup Conclave. A panel discussion, titled Fundraising Decoded: Angel, VC & Beyond, focused on providing founders with insights into investment readiness, venture capital dynamics, and how to build investor confidence.
Second panel discussion, the Founder’s Journey – In Conversation With Sachin Bansal, focused on sharing the personal and professional journey of Mr. Sachin from building Flipkart to navigating challenges in entrepreneurship in India.
- National Startup Pitch Fest
The National Startup Pitch Fest served as the culmination of the FLO Startup Cell’s entrepreneurial programs. Women founders presented their ventures to investors, mentors, and industry leaders. The program saw 42 startup applications from across the country.
Based on defined evaluation criteria, 27 founders were shortlisted, and their ventures were evaluated by FLO Angel Investor–trained women members, who further identified 9 exceptional finalists. These finalists were invited to pitch live at the National Startup Conclave 2025–26. Only 3 founders won at the National Startup Pitch Finale. Their ventures reflected the innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial strength of women founders across India.
- Networking and Collaboration Opportunities
The conclave provided a valuable platform for participants to connect with mentors, investors, and fellow entrepreneurs, fostering meaningful collaborations and partnerships.
- Focus on Growth and Scalability
Discussions emphasized the importance of adaptability, resilience, and strategic planning in building scalable and future-ready startups.
Winners – National Startup Conclave 2025–26
1st Prize
Great Goals
Founders: Sandhya Rajan & Priya Gopalan
Chennai
2nd Prize
Ray Wellness
Founder: Ruchi Desai
Indore
3rd Prize
Third Eye
Founder: Rozy Mendosa
Kanpur
Impact and Outcome
FLO National Startup Conclave 2026 benefited participants by equipping them with valuable insights into navigating challenges in the startup journey, building investor-ready business models, and identifying emerging market opportunities. The session also inspired aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue innovative ideas and contribute to India’s rapidly evolving startup landscape.
The National Startup Conclave – Bengaluru Chapter was a significant step in advancing FICCI FLO’s vision of empowering women entrepreneurs. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, the conclave contributed meaningfully to strengthening the foundation of women-led enterprises in India.