Ideabaaz, positioned as India’s first ecosystem for startups, was formally launched at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 29th September, 2025, with the participation of investors, corporate leaders and academic partners. The platform aims to connect entrepreneurs from across the country with mentorship, investment and visibility through both an integrated marketplace and a televised startup show.
The show will be hosted by acclaimed actor Pratik Gandhi. As the narrator and anchor of the journey, he aims to ensure the spirit of entrepreneurship resonates with millions across the country. “As the host of Ideabaaz, my role is to empower the entrepreneurs and innovators, to connect their ideas with the right mentors and investors, and to ensure their stories inspire the nation. I’m just here as an enabler, helping them shine,” he said.The initiative is spearheaded by Jeet Wagh, CEO & Co-Founder of Ideabaaz, Mudith Kumar, Co-Founder & COO, and Raj Nayak, Mentor, Investor & Chief Curator of Ideabaaz, who have collectively envisioned a platform that bridges gaps in the Indian startup ecosystem and reaches beyond metropolitan cities. With IIT Madras as its Knowledge Partner and Turbo Start as a Strategic Partner, Ideabaaz is positioned to become the launchpad for India's next wave of unicorns, job creators, and changemakers.
Raj Nayak, Founder, House of IPs and House of Cheer Networks, and an investor, mentor and curator at Ideabaaz set the tone by framing Ideabaaz as a nationwide movement. “What a place, what a moment to launch a movement that empowers start-ups from every part of India, to give them wings, to connect them with the right investors. There couldn’t have been a better place, a more meaningful place than the National Stock Exchange. We are here today to launch what I believe will one day become India’s biggest, most credible and most trusted platform that will work as a marketplace for startups and investors,” he exclaimed.
A distinctive aspect of Ideabaaz is its inclusive format. For the first time on Indian television, entrepreneurs will be able to pitch in their language of choice, with the show dubbed across 8 Zee TV regional channels and streamed globally on Zee5. Nayak noted that the initiative sought to build beyond finance alone. “It’s not just about investments. It’s about empathy, compassion, encouragement, courage and hope. Even if you don’t give money, those who come with their ideas must leave with encouragement, hope and guidance.”
The initiative has drawn support from academic institutions. Madhav Narayan, CEO of IIT Madras Global Research Foundation, underlined the importance of extending opportunities beyond urban hubs. “India is the third largest startup ecosystem with more than 1,00,000 registered startups, but 70% of them are from metropolitan cities. Ideas and language don’t have a pin code. To reach the goal of one million startups by 2030, we need to nurture ideas everywhere. Ideabaaz has got a great mission, and hence, we want to partner,” he said.
Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, NSE, added that the platform would contribute to widening access to entrepreneurship. “Congratulations to the Ideabaaz team on this inspiring initiative and its role in nation building. By giving founders from metros to the heartland a credible platform to be discovered, mentored and funded, Ideabaaz strengthens India’s entrepreneurial backbone and expands opportunity for all,” he said, expressing confidence that startups emerging from the platform could one day list at the exchange.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises has partnered in the venture. Mukund Galgali, Deputy CEO and CFO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises said: “When Raj and Jeet shared their vision of Ideabaaz with us, we realized it was more than just producing a show. Their vision centered around creating India’s first true marketplace for startups and investors, with a focus on Bharat, especially tier 2 and tier 3 cities. This is a platform born in Bharat, rooted in Bharat, but ready to drive it to the world.”
When asked about what would make Ideabaaz different from other entrepreneurial shows, Jeet Wagh, CEO and Co-Founder of Ideabaaz, explained, “We know the show is doing really well; it’s a benchmark for the genre. We have identified gaps that you will see in the coming weeks, how we market it and how the content is different. We are not here to fight or compete with anyone. The ecosystem is much bigger and it can include more people. We just want to help and enable more people so that we can actually create the growth story in India.”
The panel of investors and mentors, referred to as 'titans' of Ideabaaz: includes Rishabh Mariwala, Managing Partner, Sharrp Ventures; Anupam Bansal, Executive Director, Liberty Shoes; Shaili Chopra, Founder, SheThePeople and Gytree; Arjun Vaidya, Partner at V3 Ventures and Founder of Dr. Vaidya’s; Archana Jahangir, General Partner, Rukam Capital; Jimmy Mistry, CMD, Della Group; Sandesh Sharda, serial investor and venture capitalist based in Washington DC; Simran Mohapatra, Partner at Turbo Start; and Pawan Jaggi, Founder of Genisys Group and Global Director, Turbo Start; and Priyanka Salot, Co-founder, The Sleep Company.
The launch concluded with the ceremonial bell ringing at NSE, symbolising the beginning of the initiative’s journey to connect capital with ideas and expand India’s entrepreneurial base.
