# Vande Bharatam receives over 26,000 applications, says Gautam Adani 2026-08-15T12:06:55+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The first edition of Vande Bharatam received more than 26,000 applications from over 800 districts across all 36 States and Union Territories, The Economic Times reports. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said the initiative showed the entrepreneurial talent emerging from smaller cities, towns and grassroots communities. Launched by Adani to identify and support innovators, the programme offered selected participants mentorship, industry access, networking and platforms to present their ventures. Its Grand Finale took place in Ahmedabad on August 14, bringing selected innovators before mentors, investors and industry leaders. Entrepreneurs and investors, including Vijay Kedia, Ashutosh Valani, Aarti Gill and Avinash Yadav, praised the platform’s focus on smaller-town startups. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: Adani Group, Ahmedabad, Gautam Adani, Vande Bharatam Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/vande-bharatam-receives-over-26000-applications-says-gautam-adani/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/vande-bharatam-receives-over-26000-applications-says-gautam-adani/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.