How STEP’s Women-Led Startups Stole the Show at Startup Mahakumbh 2025

Amidst the buzz of Hall No. 5 at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Pod No. 183 was hard to miss—surrounded by a vibrant cluster of nine STEP-supported women-led startups, each charting their own course. These founders collectively brought alive STEP’s vision of a collaborative, empathetic, and thriving ecosystem for women innovators. 

This year’s Mahakumbh saw over 3,000 startups pitching across 11 key sectors—from D2C and DeepTech to Fintech and SportsTech—each space brimming with next-gen ideas. 

For STEP, Startup Mahakumbh provided our cohort a powerful platform to showcase ideas, connect with investors, forge partnerships, and gain insights from sector leaders. It was a chance to place women founders firmly at the heart of India’s largest startup gathering. 

Touted as one of India’s largest startup showcases, the three-day event, supported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), was a vibrant microcosm of the entire startup ecosystem, bringing together global leaders, government bodies, mentors, students, private sector enablers, and, of course, startups themselves. From policymakers to venture capitalists, incubators to innovators, the event showcased the power of collaboration across all fronts to drive India’s entrepreneurial future.

“The main purpose of Startup India and Startup Mahakumbh is to facilitate the journey of startups.”
— Sh. Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT

“Startup Mahakumbh is the physical embodiment of India’s vibrant startup ecosystem. Its vision is to grow as a powerful enabler, showcasing the best innovations, ideas, and entrepreneurs the ecosystem has to offer.
— Archana Jahagirdar, Founder & Managing Partner, Rukam Capital

But what truly made it unforgettable were the stories, conversations, and milestones our founders carried back.

The STEP Cohort: Showcasing Purpose-Driven Startups

The STEP cohort made a strong mark at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, showcasing innovations across sectors—from fashion tech and AI to clean water solutions and sustainable agriculture.

• Rhapso Fashion Tech India Pvt Ltd – Offers convenient online and doorstep tailoring services for men, women, and children.
• The Bhagirath Laboratories (OPC) Pvt Ltd – Manufactures innovative air pollution control devices for industrial air quality management.
• Hitesh Enviro Engineers Pvt Ltd – Designs and produces water and wastewater treatment equipment for sustainable environmental solutions.
• FollowG Global Pvt Ltd – A B2B platform providing CRM and retail operation tools to boost brand and retailer sales.
• Elixio Private Limited – Drives sustainable agriculture through organic manure and waste-to-wealth solutions for soil health and climate resilience.
• Hertes Food Products Pvt Ltd – Innovates with Plasma-Fogponics, a hydroponic technology enhancing plant growth and metabolism through plasma treatment.
• Aicumen Corporation Pvt Ltd – Delivers AI-powered computer vision solutions for real-time surveillance and operational safety.
• Aanandhamayaa Green Solutions – Develops a mobile app for non-invasive hemoglobin testing to combat global anemia.
• EZFASHION – Enables personalized, eco-friendly fashion and seamless tech-driven customer service, promoting women’s empowerment.

Reflections from the Founders

“Startup Mahakumbh was an eye-opener for me. I connected with several incubators and accelerators, attended industry-specific sessions, and walked away with actionable marketing strategies. The scale of the event was overwhelming in the best way—and it opened up opportunities for collaboration I hadn’t anticipated.”
— Poornima Sathyanarayanan, Founder, Rhapso Fashion Tech India Pvt Ltd

“It was incredible to witness the ecosystem come alive at Startup Mahakumbh. We’re grateful to STEP for helping us be part of it. The footfall was amazing, and we had some truly insightful conversations, especially with students. We didn’t anticipate the kind of visibility and diverse engagement we experienced. It gave our work a lot of validation and generated genuine interest. We’ve come back with strong leads—and we’re confident the conversions will speak for themselves.”
— Ramya Achar, Co-founder, Aicumen Corporation Pvt Ltd

“Winning the B2B category and receiving the award from Hon’ble Commerce Minister Shri Piyush Goyal was an unforgettable moment. Mahakumbh was an incredible platform to make meaningful connections, and it truly left me feeling motivated. The STEP team has been immensely supportive and cooperative throughout—I can’t thank them enough for making this possible.”
— Nishita Mittal, Co-founder, Hitesh Enviro Engineers Pvt Ltd

“Startup Mahakumbh was an amazing platform to connect with like-minded businesses and collaborate with industry market leaders. We’ve identified 4 to 5 highly promising leads, with potential partnerships spanning exciting areas like virtual try-on clothing and zero-plastic packaging. We’re in the early stages of discussions and hoping for  meaningful collaborations.”
— Sonali Sadhwani, Founder, EZFashion Apparels LLP

Unexpected Outcomes & Learnings

“Everything about Startup Mahakumbh was extraordinary, but what truly surprised me was the level of curiosity my app generated. From support offers for regulatory approvals to grant opportunities from an incubator, B2B partnership inquiries, and even interest in e-commerce marketing, it was overwhelming in the best way. I gained tremendous visibility and learned so much about funding and pitching. Without STEP, I wouldn’t have had the chance to be part of this experience.”
— Dr. Mala R, Founder, Aanandhamayaa Green Solutions

“I met many startups like mine, and had great networking opportunities. I really felt inspired after listening to Aman Gupta’s story. He started small, faced rejections, cut costs, and focused solely on building value—and that reassured me. One session reminded me not to compare the time spent in a job with time invested in a business—if we don’t give our startup that time, how can we expect greater returns? I also learned the importance of a practical five-year roadmap. The spirit of Mahakumbh was this: don’t dwell on what you lack, focus on what you have.  — Anjali Puranik, Founder, The Bhagirath Laboratories (OPC) Pvt Ltd

“We received a lot of appreciation for our work.  An industrialist from Himachal Pradesh doing organic farming who placed an order for 300 kg, and another from Rajasthan growing olives, who expressed interest in collaborating. We also connected with mentors keen to guide us on franchise expansion across India and scaling up operations. The event opened doors we didn’t expect.”
— Dr. Minakshi Karwal, Founder, Elixio Private Limited

The Road Ahead

“The conversations are progressing well post-Mahakumbh. We’re in pilot discussions with two regional café chains for product trials. Sample testing and efficacy evaluations are underway with a leading dairy processor and a hospital group. We’ve also had follow-up calls with two potential investors—one of which is moving toward due diligence. Startup Mahakumbh  helped us accelerate our visibility and network, and we’re excited about the next steps.”
— Soumya R S, Founder, Hertes Food Products Pvt Ltd

“Three days of vision, value, and vibrant exchange- I had the privilege of connecting with some of the brightest minds and boldest builders of our time—Amit Jain, Aman Gupta, Vikram Gupta, Neha Malhotra, and many more. Every conversation sparked something—an idea, a perspective, a possibility. An unexpected meeting with an investor, potential collaborations, and meaningful networking made the experience even more memorable. I’m deeply grateful to STEP for creating the space to showcase our work.” — Poonam Gugale, Founder, FollowG Global Pvt Ltd.

Carrying the Momentum Forward

Startup Mahakumbh 2025 was a reminder of what happens when women are given the space to show up fully. Our founders told stories, made asks, found unexpected allies, and walked away with real traction. Every moment was a step forward—not just for them, but for the ecosystem that STEP aspires to build.

The momentum from Mahakumbh didn’t end when the lights dimmed. It’s coming with us—into conversations with investors, collaborations with partners, and communities where our founders are creating real change.