Ahmedabad : Marking International Women’s Day, Udgam Charitable Trust celebrated women leadership and entrepreneurship by honouring more than 30 women achievers across diverse sectors at the 17th Udgam Women’s Achievers Awards, while also hosting the maiden Women Startup Festival in association with i-Hub Gujarat.
Held at the KCG Auditorium in Ahmedabad, the event brought together over 250 entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, academicians and industry leaders, creating a collaborative platform to recognise achievements of women and encourage greater participation of women in India’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
The initiative highlighted the growing role of women as entrepreneurs, innovators and change-makers, while bridging the gap between grassroots talent and institutional support such as mentorship, funding and professional networks. A message from Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was shared during the event, noting that Indian women today are shaping the nation’s future across sectors—from welfare initiatives to leadership roles in business and innovation.
Among the dignitaries present were Gandhinagar (North) MLA Ritaben Patel, Hiranmay Mehanta, CEO of iHub Gujarat, former bureaucrat Sunaina Tomar, and Chiranjiv Patel of P C Snehal Group, who applauded the platform for promoting women-led entrepreneurship and leadership.
Recognising Excellence Across 16 Categories
The awards recognised outstanding women across 16 categories, celebrating achievements in fields including literature, social work, health, education, entrepreneurship, environment, corporate leadership, arts, media, sports and startups.
Some of the awardees included Raksha Shukla and Neelam Kulshreshtha (Literature); Jignasha Goswami, Himali Trivedi and Sadhana Parmar (Social Work); Rasna Dave and Dr. Bhavini Sandip Shah (Health); Dr. Miral Utkarsh Panchal, Sudha Joshi and Gajjar Geetaben Manubhai (Education); Anjali Prajeshkumar Patel and Pankhuri Soni (Young Achievers); Dr. Shivani Kinarivala and Namrata Ronak Shodhan (Music); Sejal Jaydeep Barot and Prachi Patwari (Entrepreneurship); Gira Shah (Environment); Asha Varvabhai Patel (Sports); Payal Mehta (Corporate); Asha Pravin Dad (Divyang category); Nivedita Gouthi (Design); Bhavna Shailesh Mehta, Hetal Tejas Bhatti, Vinisha Ruparel and Abhipsa Apurva Dave (Art & Culture); Anurita Rathore Jadeja (Media); and Khushboo Vaidya and Paridhi Karmakar (Startup category).
Special recognitions included Ritaben Patel (Hall of Fame) and Hansaben Harshadbhi Patel and Dr. Minakshi Thakar (Lifetime Achievement Awards) for their contributions to society and women empowerment.
Startup Festival Focuses on Funding and Innovation
The Women Startup Festival, held alongside the awards, focused on strengthening the ecosystem for women entrepreneurs and grassroots innovators. Panel discussions explored themes such as “From Grassroots to Global: Real Journeys of Women Entrepreneurs & Startups” and “Funding Roots: Decoding Funding for Grassroots Innovations & Startups.”
Industry experts also conducted knowledge sessions, including Mihir Joshi, Managing Director of Gujarat Venture Finance Limited, and Bhumika Pandya, Managing Director of Baby Bloom, who shared insights on funding opportunities, market access and scaling women-led startups.
Turning Recognition into Opportunity
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Mayur Joshi, Managing Trustee of Udgam Charitable Trust, said the platform aims to go beyond recognition by connecting women achievers with mentorship, funding opportunities and professional networks.
“Udgam Usha Parva 2026 is designed to convert recognition into economic opportunity. Since 2010, the initiative has connected more than 550 women achievers with resources, networks and visibility needed to expand their impact,” he said.
The event underscored the belief that empowering women entrepreneurs and innovators is critical to building an inclusive and sustainable economic future. By bringing together the startup ecosystem with women achievers from diverse backgrounds, the festival aimed to strengthen pathways for women to lead in business, innovation and social transformation.
Founded on the principle that every woman’s journey deserves recognition, the Udgam Women Achievers Awards have honoured over 550 women across 17 editions since 2010, celebrating stories of resilience, leadership and impact across urban and rural India.