The AI Impact Summit 2026 should serve as a platform to establish India as a leading global player in artificial intelligence, Anna Roy, Mission Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and Programme Director at NITI Aayog, said on the sidelines of the event.
Roy also announced a capacity-building programme for 150 shortlisted women-led AI startups, offering structured mentorship and networking support in partnership with ecosystem stakeholders, stressing that entrepreneurial success depends on holistic support.
Speaking to IANS, she said the selection process drew over 800 applications. “We first conducted an internal review and then held 63 virtual panels. The evaluation was transparent and managed end-to-end by EY, with anonymised online marking,” she said.
During a session titled “Access to Acceleration: How WEP Supports Women Founders,” Roy outlined WEP’s role in enabling women entrepreneurs from aspiration to scale.
“Our vision at WEP is empowerment — Shakti — enabling behavioural change, providing the right knowledge at the right time and supporting women entrepreneurs through every stage of growth,” she said.
She announced the top 10 winners of the challenge — Able Credit, Aso AI, Power Lifeline, Veryfi Technologies, Project Drives, Prosigo Language, Videos HR, That Creating, Water Ultra AR and Zico AR.
Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog, said the summit represents an opportunity for India to help shape the future of AI globally.
The AI By HER Global Impact Challenge, a flagship programme of the summit, brought together women innovators, founders, researchers and policymakers for discussions and startup showcases focused on building inclusive and responsible AI solutions.
