Ghaziabad witnessed a major celebration of youth entrepreneurship as the Ghaziabad Management Association (GMA) organized the GEM Demo Day and Graduation Ceremony 2026 at Ajay Kumar Garg Institute of Management (AKGIM). The event marked the successful completion of the inaugural cohort of the Ghaziabad Entrepreneurship Mission (GEM), a flagship initiative launched with the vision of transforming job seekers into job creators.
The initiative received an overwhelming response from colleges and educational institutions across the district, attracting more than 4,000 applications from students and aspiring entrepreneurs. Following a rigorous selection process, the top 100 participants were shortlisted for the GEM cohort. Over several months, these participants underwent structured entrepreneurship training, startup validation exercises, mentoring sessions, business planning workshops, and pitch preparation before reaching the final Demo Day stage.
The event brought together entrepreneurs, educators, industry experts, startup mentors, and ecosystem enablers under one roof. More than 40 emerging founders presented their startup ideas before a distinguished jury panel, showcasing innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking across diverse sectors.
The ceremony was attended by prominent dignitaries including I.C. Agarwal, Chief Guest and Founding Member of GMA, N.K. Dhand, Founding Member of GMA, T.R. Pandey, President of GMA, Rahul Agarwal, Executive Director of GMA, and Madhuri Mukherjee, Council Member of GMA. The speakers appreciated the initiative and highlighted the growing importance of entrepreneurship in shaping the future economy. They emphasized the need to create a supportive ecosystem where young innovators can confidently pursue their ideas and contribute to employment generation.
The startup ideas were evaluated by an eminent jury comprising Swapnil Raaj, Co-Founder and CEO of Auctor Media, Priyaranjan Tiwari, Founder and CEO of Medantrik, Sarita Rawat Singh, Founder and CEO of Deebaco, BugandBees and Amanush, and Sandeep Kumar Vyas, Founder and CEO of Mild Cares. The jury members not only assessed the startup presentations but also shared valuable industry insights and practical suggestions to help participants strengthen their ventures.
Mohammad Aqif, Assistant Commissioner at the District Industries Centre (DIC), Ghaziabad, attended the event as a special guest. Addressing the participants, he spoke about various government schemes, startup incentives, and funding opportunities available for aspiring entrepreneurs. He encouraged the young founders to take advantage of these initiatives and convert their ideas into sustainable businesses.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the program was the remarkable participation of women entrepreneurs. More than 70 percent of the graduating participants were female founders, reflecting the rising confidence and entrepreneurial aspirations among young women in the region. The startups presented during the Demo Day covered sectors such as healthcare, food and agriculture, education, sustainability, fashion, technology, and consumer products.
After an impressive round of presentations, the top honours of the first GEM Demo Day were announced. The first prize was awarded to Amritansh Pandey from Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology for Amprivo, a premium corporate gifting platform promoting India’s One District One Product ecosystem. The second prize went to Anshika Singh from RCCV for Sweecane, a venture based on the concept of healthy and traditional sweetness. The third prize was secured by Ashvi and Vrinda Garg from RCCV for Petite Fit, a fashion brand designed especially for skinny and petite girls.
The program was implemented with SkillingYou as the Knowledge and Execution Partner. Praveen Kumar Rajbhar, Founder and CEO of SkillingYou, encouraged participants to view the graduation ceremony as the beginning of a larger entrepreneurial journey. He assured continued mentorship and guidance for the participants as they move forward with their ventures.
With the successful completion of its inaugural cohort, the Ghaziabad Entrepreneurship Mission has emerged as a promising platform for nurturing entrepreneurial talent among the youth. By connecting academia, industry leaders, mentors, and aspiring founders, GMA has taken an important step toward building a strong startup ecosystem in Ghaziabad and empowering young innovators to become the job creators of tomorrow.
