Agenda - Tech & Innovation Summit 2025

DAY 1 | 16 April 2026
DAY 2 | 17 April 2026

Hall: 1	Tech Stage
10:00 – 10:10 AM	Welcome Address & Lamp Lighting Suresh Khadakbhavi CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation

10:10 – 10:30 AM

Opening Keynote: - Transforming a Nation: How Emerging Technologies Will Define India’s Next Decade

Sameer Nayak Partner/Director, BCG

10:30 – 11:10 AM

Panel - Semiconductor Innovation: India’s Strategic Chip Opportunity

Fab investments, packaging, testing, and strengthening the full value chain
Developing specialised chip design talent, research capabilities, and indigenous IP.
Power, water, incentives, and regulatory frameworks needed to scale semiconductor manufacturing in India.
Partnerships, joint ventures, and technology transfers shaping India’s semiconductor future.

Ayushman Baruah Regional Bureau Head, Entrepreneur India

11:10 – 11:30 AM

Fireside Chat: Emerging Innovators.

A DeepTech startup founder (e.g. quantum or robotics) in conversation with an investor about breakthroughs and challenges in deep-tech entrepreneurship.

Shrabona Ghosh Senior Correspondent, Entrepreneur India

11:30 AM – 12:10 PM

Panel: Fintech 3.0: AI Banking, Predictive Risk & the Future of Financial Intelligence

AI-Driven Banking: How automation, intelligent workflows, and real-time decision systems are redefining modern banking.
Predictive Risk Intelligence: Using AI to forecast fraud, credit risks, AML patterns, and systemic threats before they occur.
Hyper-Personalized Finance: Tailoring products through behavioral data, AI insights, and embedded finance ecosystems.
Compliance & Smart Regulation: How RegTech, AI audits, and digital ID frameworks enable safer, transparent financial systems.
Future of Fintech 3.0: AI-native banking architectures, autonomous finance, and global shifts toward intelligence-first institutions.

Shrabona Ghosh Senior Correspondent, Entrepreneur India

12:10 – 12:50 PM

GCC Leadership Panel: GCC 3.0: India as the New Global HQ for AI, Engineering & Advanced R&D

Evolution from cost-centre GCCs to strategic hubs driving AI, engineering, and core IP creation.
Why India is emerging as the preferred global HQ for advanced R&D and deep-tech innovation.
Building world-class AI, data, and engineering talent at scale within GCCs.
Operating models, governance, and leadership structures for next-generation GCCs.
GCCs as innovation engines—collaborating with startups, academia, and global business units.

12:50 - 01:00 PM

Keynote - Autonomous Warfare: Drones, Swarm Systems & the Next Battlefield

How AI-driven drones and swarm intelligence are transforming surveillance, precision strikes, and battlefield decision-making.
Strategic, ethical, and security implications of autonomous systems in modern and future warfare.

01:00 - 02:00 PM

Networking Lunch

02:00 – 02:40 PM

Robotics & Industry 4.0: The Future of Smart Manufacturing

How robotics, automation, and IoT are redefining efficiency, precision, and scale in modern factories.
Real-world use cases of cobots, autonomous systems, and smart production lines
Integrating AI, data, and IoT for predictive maintenance and zero-downtime manufacturing.
Challenges in adoption—cost, talent, cybersecurity, and legacy system integration.
The evolving role of humans in robot-enabled, digitally connected manufacturing environments.

02:40 – 03:20 PM

Panel: Enterprise R&D – From Lab to Market

Bridging the gap between fundamental research and commercial-scale deployment.
How public–private partnerships can de-risk deep-tech innovation for enterprises.
Structuring effective collaboration models between corporates, startups, and research institutions.
Translating IP, patents, and prototypes into viable market-ready products.
Measuring ROI and impact of long-term R&D investments in deep tech.

03:20 – 03:40 PM

Space Tech & the Satellite Revolution: Powering the New Space Economy

The rise of satellite constellations and their impact on connectivity, navigation, and global coverage.
Earth observation, geospatial intelligence, and data-driven applications across industries and governments.
Public–private collaboration shaping launch capabilities, satellite manufacturing, and space services.
Commercialisation, regulation, and sustainability challenges in the rapidly expanding space economy.

03:40 – 04:20 PM

Consumer Internet Talk: Platforms & the Digital Economy — The Future of Connectivity (6G, IoT & Edge)

How 6G, IoT, and edge computing will enable ultra-low latency, always-on consumer experiences.
The next wave of consumer platforms powered by hyper-connectivity—AR/VR, smart homes, mobility, and wearables.
Data, privacy, and trust challenges in a hyper-connected digital economy.
Monetisation models and ecosystem opportunities for consumer internet platforms in the connectivity-driven era.

04:20 – 05:00 PM

AutoTech: EVs, Autonomous Mobility & Robotics — Building the Future of Intelligent Transportation

The role of sensors, AI, and edge computing in enabling safe, autonomous, and connected mobility.
Advances in material science shaping lighter, safer, and more energy-efficient EVs and robots.
Advances in material science shaping lighter, safer, and more energy-efficient EVs and robots.
Scaling challenges—from infrastructure and regulation to cost and real-world deployment.

05:00 – 05:30 PM

Fireside Chat: Public–Private Innovation.

A dialogue between a government innovation head and a corporate CTO on national innovation strategy and support for startups.

Hall: 2	Innovation Stage

10:10 – 10:30 AM

Opening Plenary (Main Stage — Common)

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

10:30 – 11:10 AM

Panel: Reinventing Leadership in an AI-First World

How leaders can use AI tools to accelerate clarity, strategy, and problem-solving.
Creating roles, workflows, and cultures built for an AI-enabled workforce.
Guardrails, governance, and values in an automation-heavy world.
Staying adaptive and innovative in a decade defined by rapid tech disruption.

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

11:10 – 11:30 AM

Panel: Fireside Chat: Data Security in the Age of AI

Exploring the new vulnerabilities created by AI, the evolving threat landscape, and the frameworks needed to ensure secure, trustworthy, and resilient AI adoption.

Ayushman Baruah Regional Bureau Head, Entrepreneur India

11:30 – 12:10 pm

Panel AI 2030: Future Skills, Public Good & the Next Leap in Human Development

How AI can strengthen healthcare delivery, public services, agriculture, civic management, and social empowerment at scale.
What the Indian workforce must learn next — AI literacy, machine collaboration, and advanced problem-solving.
Ensuring equitable access to compute, data, and digital tools across India’s urban and rural populations.
Policy, guardrails, and frameworks needed to build safe, trustworthy, citizen-first AI systems.

Ritu Marya Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Media (India & APAC)

Narain Karthikeyan Founder & Managing Director, DriveX

12:10 – 12:50 PM

Panel - Building a Future-Ready Workforce for an AI-Driven World

AI, data, automation tools, and digital workflows will become essential for every role
Critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and the ability to work alongside intelligent systems
Building Future Talent in Schools & Universities

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

12:50 - 01:00 PM

Keynote: AI Vision 2026

The evolution of AI from automation to autonomous, decision-making systems across industries.
How enterprises and governments can operationalise AI at scale—balancing innovation, trust, and regulation.
The next breakthroughs shaping 2026: foundation models, agentic AI, and real-world impact.

01:00 - 02:00 PM

Networking Lunch

02:00 – 02:40 PM

Panel: The Promise, Potential & Impact of AI: Redefining the Future of Innovation and Society

The Promise of AI: How AI is accelerating productivity, creativity, and problem-solving across sectors.
Unlocking AI’s Full Potential: Opportunities in healthcare, education, governance, enterprise transformation, and public good.
Societal & Economic Impact: How AI will reshape jobs, skills, inclusion, and the digital divide.
Responsible & Ethical AI: Guardrails, governance, and accountability as AI becomes more autonomous and influential.

02:40 – 03:20 PM

Panel: “Scaling Compute for AGI: Powering the Next Era of Intelligence"

The compute demands of AGI—scaling GPUs, TPUs, and emerging accelerator architectures.
Balancing performance, cost, and energy efficiency in large-scale AI infrastructure.
Cloud vs sovereign vs on-prem compute strategies for advanced AI systems.
Power, cooling, and sustainability challenges in hyperscale and AI data centers.
The role of software optimization, model efficiency, and new training paradigms in reducing compute bottlenecks.

03:20 – 03:40 PM

Panel: Investing in AI: Venture Capital Perspectives on the Next Wave

Emerging AI themes—from foundation models and agents to applied AI in enterprises and industry.
What VCs look for in AI startups: defensibility, data moats, teams, and paths to scale.
Capital efficiency, compute strategy, and sustainable unit economics in AI-first businesses.
The future of AI investing—regulation, geopolitics, and long-term value creation.

03:40 – 04:20 PM

Panel - Enterprise Tech Unlocked: DataOps, AIOps & the Automation Advantage

DataOps is enabling real-time, reliable data pipelines that power modern enterprise decision-making.
The rise of AIOps as the backbone of predictive, self-healing IT operations.
Why automation is now essential for scaling complex enterprise workflows with speed and accuracy.
What a unified DataOps–AIOps–Automation stack means for the future of resilient, intelligent enterprises.

04:20 – 05:00 PM

Web3 Panel: CBDCs & the Future of Global Payments

Why central banks worldwide are moving toward programmable, digital-native currencies.
Faster settlements, reduced friction, and new global corridors enabled by blockchain-based rails.
How digital securities, stablecoins, and real-world asset tokenization are redefining liquidity and compliance.
Regulatory frameworks, cybersecurity considerations, and privacy models required for CBDC adoption.
Leveraging the digital rupee, UPI rails, and public digital infrastructure to lead in global payment innovation.

05:00 – 05:30 PM

Fireside Chat: Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin.

A conversation between a blockchain startup founder and a corporate/finance executive on real world blockchain use cases (supply chain, identity, DeFi).

Hall: 1

Tech Stage

10:00 – 10:40 AM

Panel- Digital Health: The Future of Patient-Centric Care

Building seamless, personalised patient journeys across physical and digital touchpoints.
Leveraging predictive analytics for early detection and preventive medicine.
Empowering patients through wearables, home-health devices, and self-care tools.
Regulatory and ethical frameworks needed for next-gen digital health ecosystems.

Santosh S Lad Hon’ble Labour Minister, Govt. of Karnataka

10:40 – 11:00 AM

Fireside Chat: Biotech Breakthroughs

A biotech/healthtech founder and a leading scientist discuss innovations in healthcare and the path from research to commercial product.

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

11:00 – 11:40 AM

Panel- Next-Gen BioTech: From Labs to Lives

Translating deep-science breakthroughs into real-world clinical impact.
Building robust biotech startups: talent, capital, and infrastructure gaps.
Precision medicine and personalised therapeutics redefining patient outcomes.
Collaboration models between academia, industry, and government to scale innovation.

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM

Keynote: A Tech Startup's Playbook

Ayushman Baruah Regional Bureau Head, Entrepreneur India

12:00 – 12:40 PM

Panel- Cybersecurity & Governance: Securing the Digital Enterprise

How evolving cyber threats demand stronger governance and real-time risk visibility.
Building resilient architectures across cloud, data, and distributed workplaces.
Embedding security-by-design into products, processes, and enterprise culture.
Regulatory readiness: aligning cybersecurity practices with emerging compliance norms.

Shrabona Ghosh Senior Correspondent, Entrepreneur India

12:40 - 1:00 PM

Fireside -Cybersecurity Talk: Zero-Trust, AI Threats & Digital Sovereignty

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

01:00 - 02:00 PM

Lunch

02:00 - 02:35 PM

Panel - Future Farming: Tech, Data & Sustainability

Predictive analytics helping farmers manage risk and boost yields.
Soil-to-shelf traceability improving food quality and trust.
Automation and robotics powering labour-efficient agriculture.
Financing, policy, and corporate partnerships driving adoption of green agri-tech.

Ritu Marya Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Media (India & APAC)

02:35 - 03:10 PM

Panel: ClimateTech Deep Dive: Innovating for a Net-Zero Future

Breakthroughs in carbon capture, clean energy, and circular economy solutions.
Climate intelligence using AI, sensors, and satellites for real-time environmental action
Financing climate innovation—where capital is flowing and what investors want.
Policy, partnerships, and corporate commitments accelerating the path to net-zero.

Himadri Ganguly Partner Consulting, PWC India

03:10 - 03:45 PM

Planet Innovation: Designing a Cooler Future

Breakthrough solutions reshaping energy, materials, mobility, and carbon removal.
AI-powered environmental intelligence for prediction, mitigation, and resilience.
Circular systems and green manufacturing reinventing industrial impact.
Capital, policy, and partnerships driving large-scale sustainability transformation.

Ayushman Baruah Regional Bureau Head, Entrepreneur India

03:45 - 04:20 PM

Global VC Outlook: Betting on the Next Big Wave

Where global capital is flowing across AI, deeptech, sustainability, and frontier markets.
Shifts in deal-making: disciplined valuations, structured rounds, and quality-first investing.
How founders can raise globally—narratives, traction, and metrics investors now expect.
The next decade of innovation hotspots across the US, India, SE Asia, MENA, and beyond.

Ritu Marya Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Media (India & APAC)

04:20 - 05:00 PM

Panel- Consumer Tech Next: AI Devices, Smart Homes & New UX

How AI-native devices are redefining personal tech—from wearables to intelligent assistants.
The evolution of smart homes: connected ecosystems that learn, automate, and anticipate needs.
Designing the next-generation user experience where voice, gesture, and ambient AI take over.
The business opportunity: new revenue models, platform plays, and consumer adoption trends

05:00 - 05:40 PM

Panel- SaaS Founders Playbook: Scaling in the AI Era

How AI-native product design is redefining SaaS differentiation and customer value.
GTM shifts: PLG, ecosystem partnerships, and global expansion strategies that work today.
Scaling challenges—hiring, pricing, churn control, and building predictable revenue engines.
What investors now expect from SaaS startups in the age of efficiency and automation.

05:40 - 06:00 PM

Fireside Chat- Consumer Tech Talk: AI Personalization

Hall: 2

Innovation Stage

10:00 - 10:40 AM

Panel- Metaverse & Digital Economies: Building Immersive, Trusted Virtual Worlds

Real-world applications of the metaverse across gaming, entertainment, commerce, and social interaction.
The role of VR/AR in creating immersive, scalable digital experiences
NFTs, tokenisation, and new monetisation models powering digital economies.
Digital identity, interoperability, and trust in virtual worlds.

Ritu Marya Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Media (India & APAC)

10:40 - 11:00 AM

Fireside Chat- From Idea to Impact — Building High-Trust Deep-Tech Startups

Turning cutting-edge technology into deployable products
Fundraising and partnerships in high-risk, high-regulation sectors
What investors and governments really look for

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

11:00 - 11:40 AM

Web3 for Enterprises: From Experimentation to Real-World Adoption

Enterprise use cases of Web3—blockchain, tokenisation, and smart contracts beyond crypto.
Integrating Web3 with existing enterprise systems, data, and workflows.
Governance, security, and regulatory considerations for enterprise-grade Web3 adoption.
Building trust, interoperability, and scalability in decentralised enterprise applications.

Somshubhro (Som) Pal Choudhury Co-Founder and
Partner, BIF Ventures (Bharat Innovation Fund).

11:40 AM - 12:00 PM

Keynote- Cyber Resilience & Digital Trust

Keynote- Cyber Resilience & Digital Trust

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

12:00 - 12:40 pm

Web3 & Blockchain Panel: Digital Assets, Tokenization & Regulation

The evolving landscape of digital assets—from cryptocurrencies to enterprise-grade tokenised assets.
Tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA) and its impact on finance, trade, and ownership models.
Regulatory frameworks, compliance challenges, and policy clarity shaping Web3 adoption.
Balancing innovation, security, and trust in decentralised financial and enterprise ecosystems.

12:40 - 01:00 PM

Fireside Chat: Investing in Web3 – A leading crypto investor and a Web3 founder

discuss funding trends, tokenomics, and what makes a successful blockchain venture.

Ritu Marya Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Media (India & APAC)

01:00 - 02:00 PM

Lunch

02:00 - 02:35 PM

Cyber Governance Panel: Compliance & Secure Infrastructure

Building resilient, compliant digital infrastructure in an era of AI, cloud, and distributed systems.
Navigating global cyber regulations, data protection laws, and industry compliance standards.
Cyber risk management, zero-trust architectures, and enterprise-wide security governance.
Aligning cybersecurity strategy with business continuity, trust, and long-term growth.

Vikram Gupta Founder and Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures

02:35 - 03:10 PM

Blockchain: Enterprise Use Cases & Digital Identity

Practical enterprise applications of blockchain across supply chains, finance, healthcare, and governance.
Digital identity frameworks—self-sovereign identity, verification, and trust at scale.
Interoperability, security, and scalability challenges in enterprise blockchain deployments.
The role of standards and regulation in enabling trusted digital identity ecosystems.

Punita Sabharwal Managing Editor, Entrepreneur India

03:10 - 03:45 PM

The New Cyber Threat Landscape — What Leaders Must Prepare for Now

How AI, automation, and geopolitics are reshaping cyber threats
Protecting data, identities, and critical infrastructure
Moving from reactive defence to proactive, intelligence-led security

Ayushman Baruah Regional Bureau Head, Entrepreneur India

03:45 - 04:20 PM

Panel: Securing Digital Payments & Open Banking Ecosystems

Protecting real-time payments, UPI, cross-border rails, and APIs
Managing third-party, fintech, and supply-chain cyber risk
Fraud prevention, identity protection, and transaction integrity

Ritu Marya Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Media (India & APAC)

04:20 - 05:00 PM

Panel: Securing Smart Hotels — Cybersecurity in Connected Hospitality Environments

Managing cyber risk across IoT-enabled rooms, smart locks, and building systems
Securing PMS, POS, CRM, and cloud-based hospitality platforms
Balancing innovation, convenience, and security

Prince Kariappa Feature Content Writer

05:00 - 05:40 PM

Panel: Digital Identity & Zero-Trust Defence Systems

Blockchain-based identity for personnel, devices, and autonomous systems
Securing access across classified and distributed defence networks
Interoperability across defence forces, agencies, and allies

05:40 - 06:00 PM

Grand Debate: AGI — Opportunity or Risk? - Will AGI unlock unprecedented productivity and innovation—or introduce systemic risk?

Economic disruption, workforce transformation, and the future of human-machine collaboration
Governance, safety, and alignment: who should control AGI development?
Balancing acceleration with responsibility in the global race toward AGI

CONFERENCE AGENDA