Mumbai, March 12, 2026: Bright Future convened the 2026 edition of its flagship youth dialogue platform, Yuvarambh, on February 16–17 at Acres Club, Chembur, Mumbai. Held under the theme “Badi Soch – Building Entrepreneurial Pathways for Youth in a Changing India,” the two-day event brought together young people, industry leaders, incubators and ecosystem partners to explore entrepreneurship as a viable livelihood pathway for India’s youth.
The platform aimed to address the challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those struggling to move from an idea to the start-up stage. While innovation and investment platforms have expanded in recent years, many young people—especially first-generation learners—continue to face barriers such as limited access to capital, mentorship, professional networks and early market exposure.
Yuvarambh was designed as a dialogue-to-action platform that connects grassroots aspirations with the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem, including incubators, industry, financial institutions and policymakers. The initiative seeks to encourage practical thinking and collaborative problem-solving among young participants.
Building on insights from Yuvarambh 2024, which focused on access, mobility and employability, the 2026 edition highlighted a growing shift in youth aspirations toward entrepreneurship and self-created livelihood opportunities. The programme emphasised that entrepreneurship can also emerge from community-rooted ideas rather than being limited to high-growth start-up ventures.
During the event, participants took part in interactive workshops focused on idea discovery, validation and basic business planning. Mentorship circles and peer-learning sessions provided opportunities for collaboration and practical guidance.
Over the course of two days, around 80 youth participants explored more than 50 business ideas rooted in local community needs. From these, 12 ideas progressed to the next stage for mentorship support through pitch presentations under Bright Future’s entrepreneurship pathway.
A key highlight of the convening was an ecosystem panel on youth entrepreneurship that brought together representatives from incubators, MSMEs, microfinance institutions, corporates and grassroots enterprises. Panel discussions emphasised that beyond access to finance, young entrepreneurs require mentorship, networks and exposure to markets to build sustainable ventures.
Selected participants also presented their concepts during youth pitch sessions designed primarily as learning and feedback opportunities rather than competitive showcases. Engagement zones at the venue also highlighted student-led ventures, youth stories and sector interests while gathering insights on mentorship and ecosystem needs.
Kishor Palve, CEO and Founder of Bright Future India, said, “Yuvarambh 2026 reaffirmed our belief that entrepreneurship can be a powerful and accessible pathway for young people. Badi Soch means meeting youth where they are, recognising their aspirations and constraints while equipping them with skills, confidence, and support to build livelihoods.”
Dr. Arpeeta Bhatia, Program Head at Bright Future, added, “What stood out at Yuvarambh was the clarity and courage with which young people spoke about the problems they want to solve in their communities. Many of them are first-generation learners exploring entrepreneurship for the first time. Moments like these remind us why spaces for youth ideas and guidance matter.”
The event concluded with a commitment to continue supporting youth through mentorship, ecosystem partnerships and entrepreneurship programmes that extend beyond the platform into communities.
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