Event Coverage
Gujarat to boost India’s sports industry with first-ever Sports Startup Conclave
Mumbai: With an aim to boost India’s sports startup market and encourage upcoming businesses to prosper, Gujarat government will be hosting the country’s first-ever Sports Startup conclave at TransStadia University in Ahmedabad on 11 December.
The Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave will be an intersection between sports and business in alignment with the Government of Gujarat’s vision of the growth of sports in India and recognise the outstanding achievements in the sports business landscape in the country. One of the key component of the conclave is sports startup awards wherein a total of Rs 2.5 million cash prize shall be awarded to the top three winners. This flagship event will be hosted in the lead-up to Vibrant Gujarat — India’s marquee international investor summit, conceptualised under the visionary leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India’s economy is already growing rapidly and the Morgan Stanley report stated that the nation will emerge as the third-largest economy in the world by 2027. Sports industry has been one of the key factors in this growth with the Indian sports industry’s spending crossed over Rs 14,000 crore, according to the GroupM ESP’s Sporting Nation Report 2023.
The conclave aims to spotlight the startup community which has been working to highlight innovative strategies, technological advancements and transformative initiatives that are reshaping the dynamics of the world of sports and business. This unique opportunity will provide a platform to many sports startups to showcase their strategies, plans, growth and impact as the five best startups will be recognised as winners with cash awards and mentorship.
Organised by the Government of Gujarat and the Sports Authority of Gujarat, the conclave is partnered with TransStadia University and Sportscom Industry Confederation and backed by iCreate, i-Hub, the strong incubation setups which have been working with the Gujarat Government to facilitate ‘Next Generation Entrepreneurship’. While i-Hub is envisioned to be a center for all startup stakeholders to develop an end-to-end innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state of Gujarat, iCreate is India’s leading institution for transforming tech innovation-based startups into successful businesses in Gujarat and across India.
The conclave will not only showcase India’s potential as a sporting powerhouse but also bolster the startup economy and the growth progress of sports in Gujarat as well as other parts of the country. It also intends to inspire and help the country’s youth to explore the huge business potential of the sports market.
India’s young business minds will also get much-needed guidance from the top sportspersons, coaches, industry leaders, successful founders, policymakers and sports administrators who will be part of the conclave as speakers and panellists. The conclave will also feature a dynamic line-up of keynote speeches, panel discussions, pitch competition, interactive workshops.
While discussing the latest trends and challenges in the field, the participants will also get opportunities to share knowledge and seek investment.
Logo launched
A commemorative logo for the Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave indicates the importance of business networking, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships for inclusive growth and sustainable development of the rapidly evolving sports startup sector having the vibrant colors of Gujarat’s growing economy.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
