SROT Startup Skills Summit 2026
SROT Foundation Organises Startup Skills Summit 2026 at Amritsar
Stubble Management Startup Agro Stubble Management Pvt. Ltd. Honoured as “Startup of the Year 2026”
Amritsar, 21 September 2026: SROT Foundation successfully organised the Startup Skills Summit 2026 at Hyatt Regency, Amritsar, with TiE Chandigarh as the Support Partner, bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators, aspiring founders, startup enthusiasts, professionals and representatives of business, industry and entrepreneurial organisations on a common platform to exchange ideas, build meaningful connections and explore opportunities for strengthening the startup ecosystem.
The Summit was graced by Dr. Sandeep Singh Kaura, Chancellor, Udham Singh Shaheed Skill Development & Entrepreneurship University, as the Chief Guest. Dr. Radhika Trikha, CEO, IIT Ropar Technology & Innovation Foundation (iHub AWAiDH), and Mr. Brahm Alreja, President, TiE Chandigarh and Founder & CEO, Evangelist, delivered insightful keynote sessions on “From Idea to Startup” and “The Unicorn Skillset”, respectively.
Mr. Amit Madaan, Chairman, SROT Foundation, welcomed the dignitaries and participants and presented SROT Foundation’s vision and initiatives aimed at creating a stronger and more connected ecosystem for startups, entrepreneurship, innovation, skill development, mentorship and collaboration. He emphasised the Foundation’s endeavour to create platforms where ideas can find the right skills, mentors, networks, resources and opportunities to move from concept to execution and sustainable growth.
In his inspiring address, Dr. Sandeep Singh Kaura emphasised the importance of togetherness, integrity and collective effort in building a strong and sustainable startup ecosystem. He highlighted the need for greater collaboration among educational institutions, entrepreneurs, industry bodies, investors and ecosystem-support organisations to create a stronger foundation for innovation and entrepreneurship.
During her session on “From Idea to Startup”, Dr. Radhika Trikha shared valuable perspectives on transforming innovative ideas into viable startup ventures. She encouraged participants to move beyond merely having an idea and focus on validation, innovation, execution, market relevance and creation of meaningful solutions.
Mr. Brahm Alreja, while addressing the audience on “The Unicorn Skillset,” highlighted the entrepreneurial mindset, capabilities and skills required to navigate today's rapidly evolving business environment. He also emphasised the importance of ecosystem density, collaboration and togetherness in accelerating the growth of startups and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Ankur Malhotra, Founder Director, TRINITi, also shared his perspectives on India's growing startup culture and the increasing opportunities for young people aspiring to build entrepreneurial careers.
Launch of “Unicorns' Café”
A significant highlight of the Summit was the launch of SROT Foundation's new intellectual property, “Unicorns' Café – Experience Your Dreams.” The initiative was introduced by Dr. Mrigender Bedi, Honorary Director, SROT Foundation, who explained that Unicorns' Café is envisioned as a recurring physical platform for meaningful conversations, knowledge exchange and interaction between entrepreneurs, industry experts, investors, mentors and aspiring founders.
Through Unicorns' Café, SROT aims to create a more accessible and engaging environment where real business challenges can be discussed, entrepreneurial experiences can be shared and founders can gain practical insights directly from people who have built and scaled businesses.
Startup of the Year 2026
The Summit also recognised Agro Stubble Management Pvt. Ltd., a startup working in the field of stubble management and sustainable material innovation, with the “Startup of the Year 2026” Award.
The startup has been working on converting agricultural stubble into tough and sustainable ceiling and wall panels, demonstrating how an environmental challenge can be approached as an opportunity for innovation, enterprise and sustainable economic value creation. The recognition reflects the growing importance of startups that address real-world challenges through commercially viable and scalable solutions.
The Summit showcased startups and entrepreneurial ventures working across diverse sectors, including AgriTech, HealthTech, FoodTech, IT & AI, Construction and Robotics, demonstrating the breadth of innovation emerging from Punjab and beyond.
Building a Connected Startup Ecosystem
The programme witnessed participation from representatives of several prominent ecosystem organisations and institutions, including Webipher, IKGPTU, Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Innovation Mission Punjab, BNI Amritsar, MUSE, Punjab Angels Network, MentorX and other entrepreneurial and industry networks.
Dr. Sanjay Mahajan, President, SROT Foundation, Amritsar Chapter, said that the Summit reinforced SROT's belief that “Togetherness, Integrity and Innovation can build a stronger startup ecosystem.” He expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, ecosystem partners and participants and reiterated SROT Foundation's commitment to creating platforms that connect ideas with skills, mentorship, funding, networks and opportunities.
Mr. Kashiv Seth, Joint Secretary, SROT Foundation, also played an important role in supporting the Foundation's efforts towards bringing entrepreneurs, institutions, associations and ecosystem stakeholders onto a common platform.
The Summit concluded with appreciation to all participating organisations, partners, speakers, dignitaries and stakeholders whose collective support contributed to making Startup Skills Summit 2026 a meaningful initiative towards strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With Startup Skills Summit 2026 and the launch of Unicorns' Café, SROT Foundation has further strengthened its commitment to building not merely individual startups, but a connected ecosystem where ideas can be nurtured, skills can be developed, collaborations can be created and innovations can be transformed into sustainable enterprises.