Copyright yourstory
TechSparks 2025 is only getting warmed up. Day one of the 16th edition of YourStory’s flagship startup-tech summit brought together seasoned founders, first-time entrepreneurs, investors, and industry visionaries, united by a common goal—to explore ‘India 2030: Powered by AI’. Insightful conversations, hands-on masterclasses, and breakthrough innovations set the stage for what lies ahead. And if day one captured the pulse of India’s startup ambition, day two dives deeper into what truly powers the country’s innovation engine. From the art of authentic storytelling to cutting-edge tech breakthroughs, financial inclusion, and the bold strides of deep tech—day two is gearing up to deliver a stellar lineup and even sharper conversations. The day will put a spotlight on the power of narrative in entrepreneurship. Kunal Kapoor, actor and co-founder of Ketto, will explore how storytelling—rooted in purpose and clarity—becomes a strategic advantage, earning trust, mobilising communities, attracting capital, and transforming brands into catalysts of real change. Keeping the momentum going, we will have Zepto co-founder Kaivalya Vohra and CTO Nikhil Mittal take audiences behind the scenes of one of India’s fastest-growing quick commerce unicorns. They will break down the algorithms and AI-assisted workflows, from automated restocking to fulfilment tracking, that are powering the revolution in convenience. The conversation will also examine the economics behind building profitable dark stores in a country where scale and efficiency must work hand in hand. We also have Nandita Sinha, CEO of Myntra, to share with attendees a CEO’s guide to building the world’s most intelligent fashion platform. She will talk about how AI-powered, creator-led global fashion businesses can keep winning. From speed to sustainability, Kalaari Capital’s Vani Kola will take the stage to map the path ahead for India’s founders and investors in an AI-first decade. The session will spotlight how capital strategies, product priorities, and long-term vision must evolve to match the rising bar of innovation. We cannot talk about Indian innovation without mentioning the country’s fintech ecosystem. Gautam Aggarwal, Mastercard's South Asia Head, will outline how AI will reshape India’s digital economy. From smarter payments to secure inclusion-led solutions, the conversation will explore how technology can strengthen Bharat’s financial backbone, ensuring innovation that scales with accessibility. India’s backbone is its MSMEs. Joining in a panel discussion, Bharat Goenka (Vice Chairperson, Tally Solutions), Nupur Goenka (Executive Director, Tally Solutions), and Tejas Goenka (Managing Director, Tally Solutions) will decode Tally’s unique approach to solving India-specific complexities, while enabling millions of businesses to adopt digital tools with confidence. Next up, a pivotal discussion will explore Tokyo as a new launchpad for emerging Indian brands. Leaders like Naoto Nakadate, Senior Director, Japan-India Startup Hub, JETRO; Kiyoko Hashiba, Director for Global Promotion, Tokyo Metropolitan Government; and Yoko Fukata, Director/Head of Sony Ventures India, Sony Ventures Corporation, will highlight the emerging Indo-Japan partnership rooted in deep tech collaboration, patient capital, and a shared commitment to innovation-led growth. Rounding out the day, Arjun Rao, General Partner, Speciale Invest; Prabhu Rangarajan, Co-founder, M2P Fintech; and Vishesh Rajaram, Managing Partner, Speciale Invest, will chart India’s transformation from quick fixes to frontier-first innovation. Other notable speakers of the day include Abhishek Poddar, Co-founder and CEO of Plum; Pratik Desai, Founder and CEO of Kissan AI; Ariane Bucquet Pousette, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Entrepreneurship Stockholm Business Region; Nayani Nasa, India Lead- Tech Provider Ecosystem, Meta; and Rohant Shyam Rammohan, Lead- Partnerships, Business Messaging- India, Meta, among others. Grab your coffee, and let innovation take the centre stage. (Edited by Suman Singh)
