FLO Ahmedabad, under the leadership of Chairperson Ms. Madhu Banthia, hosted a startup accelerator program in collaboration with iHub Gujarat. The program focused on strengthening the medical and biotechnology startup ecosystem by enabling early-stage innovators with strategic mentoring, investment-readiness guidance, policy insight, and access to institutional ecosystems, while fostering collaboration between academia, government, industry, and ecosystem enablers.
The FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Startup Accelerator Program brought together 48 shortlisted startups, selected from 140 registrations, representing diverse regions across India. The accelerator was designed as an intensive engagement featuring startup pitching sessions, expert-led panel discussions, and problem-solving forums focused on real-world challenges faced by healthcare and biotech startups.
Core Areas of Discussion
- Pathways to government, institutional, and private investment.
- Addressing research funding and commercialization gaps.
- Structuring sustainable models for scale and market entry.
- Building credibility through policy alignment and ecosystem partnerships.
Leadership & Panel
The program was led and overseen by Hiranme Sir, Hiranme Mahanta, Director at iHub, who headed the accelerator and provided overall strategic direction. Also, the distinguished panel comprised leaders from academia, policy, finance, and innovation, including:
- Professor Dr. Rajesh Chandwani – Academic leader and iHub representative.
- Yamalbhai – Director, Fourth Finance Commission.
- Chinmay Shah – Tech Evangelist and Innovation Advocate.
- Senior academicians, ecosystem enablers, and industry experts supporting startup growth.
Role of FICCI FLO Ahmedabad
FICCI FLO Ahmedabad was invited to participate as a panelist and mentor, contributing insights on:
- Entrepreneurial leadership and scaling strategies
- Inclusive and women-led innovation
- Leveraging institutional partnerships and ecosystem networks
FLO’s participation added a strong mentorship-driven perspective, supporting founders in navigating early-stage challenges with clarity and confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Strong national participation with high-quality innovation in the medical and biotech sectors.
- Actionable guidance on funding pathways, research monetization, and investor engagement.
- Effective collaboration between startups, academia, government bodies, and ecosystem partners.
- Reinforced importance of structured mentoring and cross-sector collaboration for sustainable scale.
Conclusion
The FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Startup Accelerator Program, in collaboration with iHub Ahmedabad, successfully created a focused platform for innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving, enabling startups from across India to refine their strategies and move closer to scalable, impact-driven growth.