When a District Dreams Big: The District Venture Studio Showcase & Startup Ecosystem Fusion Meet

Some evenings stand out as milestones, not just because of the date, but because a shared
vision becomes real.The District Venture Studio Showcase & Startup Ecosystem Fusion Meet, held recently in I-Hub AHmedabad was one of those moments. More than a showcase, the event demonstrated what becomes possible when the community, government, young people, academia, investors,and entrepreneurs come together around a common purpose.
At the center of this transformation is the Amrit Mehsana Startup & Innovation Mission
(AMSIM)—a first-of-its-kind district-level initiative that is fast emerging as a national model for
grassroots-led innovation and entrepreneurship.

From Vision to Reality: The District as a Venture Studio

AMSIM began with the vision of Shri M. Nagarajan, IAS —a leader deeply committed to
ensuring that innovation does not remain confined to metropolitan cities.
During his tenure in Mehsana, Shri Nagarajan envisioned the district not merely as an
administrative unit, but as a Venture Studio—a living ecosystem where ideas are identified
locally, nurtured systematically, supported institutionally, and scaled sustainably. This belief
became the foundation of AMSIM: a framework designed to unlock local talent and empower
youth, innovators, and startups at the grassroots level.
This approach challenges long-held assumptions about innovation. It proves that districts,
when supported by strong governance and ecosystem collaboration, can become
engines of entrepreneurship, job creation, and inclusive growth.

AMSIM: Building an Inclusive Ecosystem from the
Ground Up

Launched on 18 May 2023 by the District Administration of Mehsana, AMSIM was conceived as
a district-level innovation hub dedicated to nurturing creativity, entrepreneurship, and
technological advancement across Mehsana and surrounding regions.
The mission focuses especially on Tier-2 and Tier-3 talent, ensuring that young people no
longer need to migrate to metros to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions. Its overarching goal is to
transform Mehsana into a model district for innovation and entrepreneurship, aligned with
the national visions of Startup India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat @2047.

Core objectives of AMSIM include:

● Empowering students, youth, and local innovators
● Fostering collaboration between education institutions, industries, startups, and
government
● Supporting startups across every stage—from ideation to scale
● Facilitating intellectual property creation and protection
● Providing structured platforms for mentorship, funding access, and market linkage

To achieve this, AMSIM is built on three strong pillars:
1. Grassroots Innovation—starting from schools, colleges, and innovation clubs
2. Startup Acceleration through the BharatNext Accelerator—India’s first district-level
accelerator for Tier-2 and Tier-3 startups
3. Governance-backed Infrastructure through NAMO iHUB—India’s first district startup
and innovation hub
Together, these pillars form a District Startup Stack, enabling ideas to move seamlessly from
classrooms to boardrooms—from mind to market.

NAMO iHUB: India’s First District Venture Studio

A major highlight of AMSIM’s journey is the launch of NAMO iHUB, inaugurated on 25
December 2024. More than a physical space, NAMO iHUB functions as a co-working hub,
incubation center, problem-solving engine, and investment platform, all under one roof.
NAMO iHUB is designed to:
● Support startups across sectors such as technology, agriculture, healthcare,
sustainability, clean energy, and deep-tech
● Provide cutting-edge infrastructure, expert mentorship, funding pathways, and skill
development
● Act as a regional innovation hub for North Gujarat, fostering collaboration between
startups, industries, academia, and government
BNAMO iHUB aims to support 100+ startups, create direct and indirect jobs, and contribute
significantly to regional and national economic growth.

A Convergence of Visionaries: The Showcase Evening

The District Venture Studio Showcase & Startup Ecosystem Fusion Meet brought together
leaders from government, academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem—each representing a
critical pillar of the district’s innovation journey.
The event was honoured by the presence of:
● Shri Mukesh Kumar, IAS — Principal Secretary (Higher & Technical Education),
Government of Gujarat
● Shri M. Nagarajan, IAS — Former District Collector of Mehsana & visionary behind
AMSIM (currently Vice Chairman and Managing Director, GSRTC)
● Dr. Hasrat Jasmine, IAS — District Development Officer, Mehsana
● Shri Bipin Talati, IAS — Director, Technical Education Department, Government of
Gujarat
● Padma Shri Ganpat Patel — President & Patron-in-Chief, Ganpat University
● Dr. Achyut Dani — Pro-Vost, JG University

● Amit Parikh — Startup Committee Head, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(GCCI)
● Dr. Vasundhara Duggal — Chief Mentor, NAMO iHUB
● Annu Tyagi — Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Ahmedabad Division, Western
Railways
● Hiranmay Mahanta — CEO, i-Hub Gujarat
● Zarna Udasi — Associate Editor, ET Now
● Jay Joshi — Program Head, i-Hub Gujarat

Each leader brought a unique perspective, experience, and commitment, creating a space
where policy, practice, capital, and creativity converged into meaningful dialogue.

Celebrating AMSIM’s Journey

The evening went beyond speeches and presentations. It showcased the journey of
AMSIM—its milestones, learnings, partnerships, and the people behind the mission.
Entrepreneurs spoke about how local mentorship reshaped their direction. Institutional partners
reflected on future collaborations. Investors highlighted the growing value of district-level
innovation. Students and young founders shared stories of confidence, opportunity, and belief.
This was not merely a celebration—it was a powerful validation of what happens when a
district dares to dream big and commits to building systems that support those dreams.
Explaining his vision of District as a venture studio , Shri Nagarajan gave a glimpse of his
short journey and how he envisioned the Hub & Spoke Model where his motto is “ Catch
them young.” He highlighted the idea of developing Value Oriented Entrepreneurship &
India oriented solutions by the local people solving real problems. “The startups may not
be a Unicorn in numbers but they are Unicorn in providing Solution to local problems” he
added.

Appreciating the vision of Shri M Nagarajan ,Shri Mukesh Kumar, Principal Secretary
(Higher & Technical Education), Government of Gujarat stressed upon the need of more
bureaucrats coming forward and supporting the startup ecosystem. He also highlighted
the importance of regional hubs for developing a vibrant startup ecosystem and discussed
disrupting the existing system to break the virtuous cycle and migration of startups to
Bangalore, Mumbai etc and attract startups from other parts of the country to Gujarat.
DDO Mehsana Smt Hasrat Jasmin sharing her experience of working with Shri M
Nagarajan she recalled her early days learning about startup ecosystem and how they
also learned in the journey of creating AMSIM.She assured her support in sunch
development focused programs and initiatives .
Shruti Mehta , Founder of BharatGodaam Solutions also shared her experience of
Participating in a Demo Day organised by AMSIM and Ihub at APMC Unjha where along
with industry connections she got her first client as well.

A Replicable Model for the Nation

AMSIM stands out because it is designed for replication. The District Venture Studio model
offers a blueprint that other districts can adopt—combining governance leadership, ecosystem
partnerships, and local talent to build sustainable startup communities.
With continued support from educational institutions, policymakers, investors, and industry
partners, districts across India can unlock local innovation, reduce migration, strengthen
MSMEs, and contribute meaningfully to national growth.
Mehsana’s journey shows that ecosystems grow strongest when they grow from within.

Looking Ahead

The District Venture Studio Showcase & Startup Ecosystem Fusion Meet marked an important
chapter in Mehsana’s innovation story—but it is only the beginning.
When government, community, youth, and business work together, real change is not just
possible—it becomes inevitable.
AMSIM is no longer just an initiative– It has become a movement.