The Innovation Hub at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) has launched a state-wide digital platform aimed at connecting startups, incubators, mentors, investors and other innovation stakeholders across Uttar Pradesh.
Developed by Noida-based SanchiConnect, the platform, ecosystem.ihub.up, was unveiled at the third edition of UP Startup Samvad. The platform currently has 35 incubators onboarded and is designed to scale across the more than 70 incubators supported by AKTU in the state.
The launch was attended by Uttar Pradesh Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel, AKTU Vice Chancellor Prof. Jai Prakash Pandey, Atal Innovation Mission Managing Director Shri Deepak Bagla, Innovation Hub CEO Shri Mahip Singh, along with more than 100 representatives from government, industry and the investment ecosystem.
Creating a Digital Layer for Uttar Pradesh’s Startup Ecosystem
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as one of India’s major startup hubs, with startups operating across several districts of the state. Alongside the growth of its startup base, the state has expanded its policy and institutional support for entrepreneurship, including measures focused on startup financing, incubation and innovation infrastructure.
The new platform is intended to provide a shared digital layer for this expanding ecosystem. It brings startups, incubators, mentors and investors onto a common system, allowing ecosystem participants to discover opportunities and connect beyond their immediate city or institutional network.
For incubators, the platform is designed to facilitate collaboration and provide greater visibility into startups and ecosystem activity across the state. For founders, it aims to expand access to mentors, investors and potential market opportunities.
Connecting Startups With Investors and Markets
A key objective of the platform is to create a structured entry point for investors, corporates and other organisations looking to engage with startups in Uttar Pradesh.
Through a unified system, visiting investors, corporate representatives and business delegations can discover and filter startups from different parts of the state rather than depending solely on individual introductions or local networks.
The approach is intended to help startups from cities beyond the state’s established startup centres gain greater visibility among investors, mentors and potential corporate partners.
35 Incubators Onboarded in Three Weeks
One of the key execution milestones highlighted during the launch was the onboarding of 35 incubators within three weeks, along with the startups, mentors and investors associated with them.
According to SanchiConnect, the Uttar Pradesh platform represents its second state-level ecosystem platform. The company had earlier worked on the Tripura Digital Innovation Platform, launched in August 2026 in partnership with a state public sector undertaking.
The company said the experience has helped establish a model focused on rapid stakeholder onboarding, structured reporting and digital infrastructure that can be operated by state ecosystem agencies.
Focus on Greater Access for Founders Across Uttar Pradesh
Speaking at the launch, Shri Mahip Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Innovation Hub, AKTU, said the platform is intended to strengthen investment and market access for startups across the state.
“Uttar Pradesh has no shortage of talent or ideas, what it has needed is a way for its startups, investors and markets to find each other,” Singh said. He added that the platform would provide incubators and innovation centres across the state with a shared foundation to facilitate these connections at scale.
Dr. Sunil K. Shekhawat, Co-Founder and CEO, SanchiConnect, said the three-week deployment demonstrated that state-level ecosystem infrastructure can be developed and implemented within a short timeframe.
He said the platform would help bring greater visibility to startups from cities such as Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Agra and Jhansi by connecting them with mentor and investor networks concentrated in larger startup centres such as Lucknow and Noida.
Platform Expansion Planned Across AKTU’s Incubator Network
With 35 incubators already onboarded, the next phase will focus on expanding participation across AKTU’s wider network and increasing engagement between startups, investors, mentors and institutions.
The platform is expected to support discovery, collaboration, investment discussions and market linkages as more stakeholders join the network.
The initiative marks another step toward creating a more digitally connected startup ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh, with the focus shifting from individual incubator networks toward a shared state-level infrastructure for startups and ecosystem stakeholders.
By: Arushi Agarwal
