Startup Spirit Lights Up Amritsar in Final Stage of Future Tycoons Programme
Amritsar’s energetic push on the startup scene is making some real noise, thanks to the Future Tycoons programme. This initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, is now in the final stages and has stitched together an impressive web of local administration, innovative organizations, and academia. While the first two editions played out in Patiala and Ludhiana, Amritsar’s chapter drew an even bigger crowd, showing off Punjab’s swelling interest in entrepreneurship.
Organized as a team effort between the Amritsar district administration, Startup Punjab, and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the third edition started with over 1,500 eager participants throwing their hats in the ring. Not just anyone moved forward though—a critical panel formed by professors from Guru Nanak Dev University, IIM-Amritsar, and Punjab Technical University whittled the list down to 300 budding business ideas. These chosen few got the chance to take part in an intense three-day workshop at Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan on the storied GNDU campus.
Diverse Mentoring and Bold Ideas: A Glimpse into the Workshop
This wasn’t your average classroom drill. The workshop, held from May 6 to 8, 2025, put participants through their paces by bringing in heavy-hitting mentors from Innovation Mission Punjab and Startup Punjab, as well as seasoned voices from academic backgrounds. They opened up about what really matters when a business is finding its feet—tactics for navigating government support schemes, cracking pricing models, carving a brand identity, and understanding market twists and turns.
There was a hands-on spin to things too. Attendees didn’t just listen—they pitched their evolved business models to a tough jury at the end. This real-world test brought out some surprising creativity and sharp new thinking, the kind you’d hope for in tomorrow’s business leaders. What really struck the crowd was how inclusive this event became; ten hearing-impaired students from Bhagat Puran Singh Badhir Vidyalaya also took part, with sign language interpreters on hand turning fast-paced ideas into accessible insights. Their presence gave a meaningful twist to the event, showing that innovation is for everyone, not just the few.
Major names like Ashish Mehta and Dhaval Kaku from Innovation Mission Punjab brought a deeper sense of credibility, while Employment Officer Mukesh Sarangal and Deputy CEO Tirathpal Singh rounded off a panel that kept the stakes high and the environment supportive. There’s a clear drive to not just celebrate the winners, but to fuel a culture where young minds get the runway they need—no matter their background or challenges. The final stage may be wrapping up, but the real stories are just getting started as these future tycoons take their first steps beyond the workshop doors.