Kerala Innovation Festival 2025 Showcases a Decade of Inclusive, Tech-Driven Entrepreneurship

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Published on Jul 28, 2025, 03:17 PM | 4 min read

Kochi: The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) successfully concluded the first edition of the Kerala Innovation Festival (KIF 2025 at the KSUM Innovation Hub in Kalamassery. The two-day event brought together over 10,000 participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, students, researchers, policymakers and cine-artists.

Organised to mark ten years of sustained innovation-led initiatives by KSUM, the event featured over 100 product showcases, live technology demonstrations, and panel discussions across themes such as Sustainable Development, She Leads, and Gen AI for All. Cultural and public engagement segments like a Food Fest, Music Festival, and Sustainable Flea Market added vibrancy to the programme.

The event was inaugurated by Mamatha Venkatesh, Head of Startup India, with a keynote address delivered by Mini Sukumaran, member of the State Planning Board. Also present were District Collector NSK Umesh and KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika. Lauding Kerala’s startup ecosystem as the most vibrant in the country, Venkatesh noted the state's exceptional performance, with 100% of its startups registered under the Startup India program.

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Addressing gender disparities in the workforce, State Planning Board member Mini Sukumaran said that despite the rise in women pursuing higher education in Kerala, their workforce representation remains low. “This gender gap is a pressing concern that demands immediate attention,” she said. Sukumaran added that the state government is taking urgent steps to bridge the divide and that the Planning Board has proposed recommendations to make the gender budget more impactful and results-driven.

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) CEO Anoop Ambika announced that the state’s nodal agency will roll out enhanced angel funding mechanisms to support startups at early stages. “Kerala currently has four active angel networks. We believe that the success of local ecosystems will encourage more angel investors to step in,” Ambika added.

The closing session was attended by Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeeve, who acknowledged KSUM’s role in supporting grassroots innovation and positioning Kerala among the top startup hubs in India.

The event saw participation from over 100 speakers representing business, technology, arts, and media, including Kris Gopalakrishnan (Co-founder, Infosys), Murugavel Janakiraman (Founder, Matrimony.com), Srikanth Vishnu (MD, Brahmins Food India), VKC Razak (MD, VKC Corporate House), and artists such as Nivin Pauly, Nikitha Vimal, Sophia Paul among others.

KSUM, established in 2006, is the Government of Kerala’s nodal agency for promoting entrepreneurship and implementing the Kerala Technology Startup Policy. Over the past decade, KSUM has emerged as one of India’s most dynamic public startup accelerators, supporting more than 6,500 registered startups across the state.

With a focus on technology-driven and inclusive innovation, KSUM has developed an extensive support network comprising over 60 incubators, 525 mini incubation centres, and more than 10 lakh sq. ft. of incubation space. The agency also manages 530 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centres (IEDCs) across colleges in Kerala, playing a crucial role in fostering student innovation.

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Through initiatives like FabLabs and the Super FabLab in Kochi – established in partnership with MIT – KSUM provides state-of-the-art prototyping facilities to early-stage startups and student entrepreneurs. Kerala's emphasis on real-world problem-solving has led to innovations such as manhole-cleaning robots for sanitation safety and solar-powered ferries for low-emission transport.

KSUM’s financial support programs include Innovation Grants of up to Rs. 12 lakh, patent cost reimbursements, and access to early-stage venture funding through partnerships with SEBI-registered venture capital firms. Funding support ranges between Rs. 25 lakh and Rs. 2 crore for qualified startups.

In 2019, KSUM was ranked World No. 1 Public Business Accelerator by UBI Global. Kerala was also named India’s Best Performing State Startup Ecosystem in 2022 by Startup India, a recognition of KSUM’s consistent performance and community-based approach to entrepreneurship.

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The mission also runs inclusive initiatives like LEAP Coworks, providing accessible co-working and mentoring spaces across urban and semi-urban regions, ensuring that entrepreneurs from smaller towns are equally supported.

KIF 2025 provided a platform to reflect on the outcomes of KSUM’s decade-long efforts and explore future directions for Kerala’s innovation economy. By combining policy, infrastructure, education, and funding, the state has built a startup ecosystem that is not only competitive but also socially relevant and accessible.

As Kerala continues to support entrepreneurship through targeted interventions and cross-sector collaboration, the Kerala Innovation Festival is expected to become a regular feature for showcasing emerging innovations and connecting stakeholders across the spectrum.