The YiFi Summit 2025, hosted by Young Indians (Yi), proved to be a landmark gathering of India’s most enterprising youth, visionaries, policymakers, and industry leaders. Over two days of high-energy engagements and strategic conversations, Yi reinforced its mission to foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and nation-building as India heads toward Viksit Bharat @2047.
Day 1: Catalyzing Capital and Ideas at the National Stock Exchange
Day 1 commenced at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) with the highly anticipated session on “Idea to IPO”, where Mr. Krishnan Iyyer, Vice President, NSE, offered an insider’s perspective on taking startups public and navigating regulatory frameworks. The opening remarks by Mr. Pradeep Chenthilkumar, Mr. Arun Rathod, and Mr. Tarang Khurana laid the foundation for the day, emphasizing the role of young entrepreneurs in scripting India’s next growth chapter.
Subsequent sessions on India@100 – Amritkaal, moderated by Mr. Krunal Shah, featured insightful contributions from industry stalwarts Kailash Kulkarni (HSBC Mutual Fund) and Navneet Munot (HDFC Mutual Fund). The discourse shifted seamlessly into a panel on Next-Gen Wealth Creation with Rohit Murarka (Kotak Cherry) and Swati Jain (Arihant Capital) sharing perspectives on financial empowerment and investing early.
Day 1 Evening: Celebrating Startups and Stories at Sahara Star
The energy soared in the evening as delegates moved to Hotel Sahara Star for cultural performances, networking, and deep-dive plenaries. A Ganapathi Pooja dance by Uttara Sharath set a vibrant tone, followed by an inspiring keynote by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism & Culture, Government of India. He also felicitated rising startups from Kashmir, underlining the inclusive spirit of entrepreneurship.
One of the highlights of the evening was a fireside conversation with actor Jackie Shroff, who candidly shared his journey from the streets to stardom, moderated by actor and RJ Ms. Devangana Chauhan. This was followed by an inspiring session on space tech innovation led by Srinath Ravichandran (AgniKul Cosmos) and Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal (IIT Madras) on the theme “Bharat@2030: Technology & Innovation Reshaping India.”
The day concluded with a motivating talk by Mr. Subhash Talekar of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, showcasing the legendary 6-step delivery model, and the official launch of Yi’s Take Pride campaign by Mr. Dhruv Seth.
Day 2: Bharat Rising Through Knowledge, Inclusion, and Innovation
The second day opened with a forward-looking plenary on Empowering Innovation through Higher Education, featuring Prof. Bhimraya Metri (IIM Nagpur). This was followed by thought-provoking sessions on AI-driven growth led by Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, and gender parity in business featuring Radhika Gupta (Edelweiss AMC) and Chetna Sinha (Mann Deshi Foundation), moderated by Yashodhara Bajoria.
Social media influencer and entrepreneur Raj Shamani unpacked the dynamics of the Creator Economy, while Anupam Mittal (Shaadi.com) and others inspired the audience through tales of startup grit and purpose-led innovation.
The special plenary featuring Mr. R. Mukundan (President Designate, CII & MD, Tata Chemicals) and Mr. Narayan Sethuraman underscored the convergence of industry leadership and youth-driven policy innovation. Leadership lessons from the Siachen Glacier by Capt. Raghu Raman offered a humbling reminder of resilience.
Cinema and entrepreneurship intersected in the session with Mr. Shobhu Yarlagadda, producer of Baahubali, and further sessions explored family businesses, portfolio management, and the critical theme of policy as a platform for entrepreneurial growth with Shri Milind Deora.
The summit concluded on a high note with stories from the next-gen entrepreneur panel, followed by closing remarks and a celebration of the Yi National Entrepreneurship Team & Yi Mumbai.
YiFi 2025 Impact
YiFi 2025 wasn’t just a summit—it was a movement that brought together over 100+ thought leaders, changemakers, and youth representatives across sectors. The event showcased India’s boundless energy, innovation, and leadership, reaffirming the belief that Young Indians are not just the future—they are the now.
