ImagiNxt 2026, MeitY Startup Hub join for Mumbai tech fest

ImagiNxt 2026, a technology and innovation festival planned in Mumbai, has partnered with MeitY Startup Hub, the national startup platform under India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The collaboration puts startup participation and policy discussion at the centre of the ImagiNxt 2026 programme. It also reflects a closer link between a privately curated event platform and a government-backed innovation body as India seeks to expand its digital economy.

Organisers say the partnership will broaden access for founders and the ecosystem organisations that support them. MeitY Startup Hub will contribute to startup-led programming, policy conversations, and curated ecosystem engagements.

ImagiNxt 2026 is scheduled for 22-23 May 2026 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. Organisers describe it as a convening of technology, enterprise, policy, science, and creativity, with an agenda focused on innovation themes that can scale across industries and public services.

Government interface

MeitY Startup Hub is the Ministry's platform for startup and innovation initiatives. Its remit spans deep tech, electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, gaming, and other emerging technologies, working across government, industry, academia, and investment networks.

This scope gives the Hub a broad view of India's digital policy priorities and a role in convening stakeholders who influence market access. For ImagiNxt 2026, it is expected to shape which sessions run under the Hub's banner and which founders and institutions are invited into curated engagements.

Deepak Lamba, founder and CEO of ImagiNxt, framed the partnership around the relationship between startups, policy, and large organisations. "India's digital ambition will be realised by how effectively startups, policy and enterprise move together - at speed and at scale. Partnering with MeitY Startup Hub strengthens ImagiNxt's ability to serve as a platform where founders are not merely visible, but structurally connected to capital, markets, policymakers and global opportunity. This collaboration is about translating innovation intent into measurable outcomes for India's technology future."

For MeitY Startup Hub, the partnership adds another channel to engage founders and industry leaders in a conference setting. It also creates space for policy dialogue with a mixed audience of startups, investors, researchers, and corporate technology leaders.

Dr Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, emphasised the importance of multi-stakeholder participation. "India's digital growth depends on strong collaboration between government, industry, startups and academia. ImagiNxt brings these stakeholders together in a structured and forward-looking way. I look forward to being part of ImagiNxt 2026 and contributing to conversations focused on building scalable, inclusive and future-ready technology for India."

Event focus

ImagiNxt 2026 is billed as the inaugural edition of a festival-format event, developed by ImaginatioNxt Private Limited. Organisers have outlined focus areas including artificial intelligence, deep tech, digital public infrastructure, robotics, sustainability, enterprise transformation, and creator-driven economies.

The event is positioned at the intersection of several trends in India's technology sector, including growth in government-backed digital services, rising interest in semiconductor and electronics supply chains, and wider adoption of AI tools by businesses and public bodies.

In this context, the partnership gives ImagiNxt 2026 a direct link to a government-supported network of startups and research-led innovation efforts. It also aligns the festival with policy themes increasingly important to founders, including procurement pathways, regulatory clarity, and access to testing and deployment environments.

Next announcements

Further details on MeitY Startup Hub-led sessions, startup showcases, and ecosystem initiatives at ImagiNxt 2026 are expected in the coming months.

The partnership signals that the festival will include a visible government interface for founders and technology firms, combining startup showcases with policy discussions.