Bengaluru witnessed the convergence of some of India’s most influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors as Next Bharat Ventures successfully hosted its flagship “Next Billion Forum 2025.” The event brought together over 200 participants from across India and Japan, including founders, policymakers, corporate heads, and investors, to discuss transformative pathways for Bharat 2047.
Prominent speakers included N. R. Narayana Murthy (Founder, Infosys), Amitabh Kant (Former G20 Sherpa), H. Takeuchi (CEO & MD, Maruti Suzuki India), T. V. Mohandas Pai, Dr. Pramod Varma (Chief Architect, Aadhaar), Nilesh Shah (MD, Kotak AMC), Meena Ganesh (Co-Founder, Portea Medical), and Dhimant Parekh (Co-Founder, The Better India).
Highlighting the forum’s transformative vision, Amitabh Kant remarked, “Next Bharat has the potential to create a bigger impact than Maruti Suzuki.” Adding a strong global dimension, 40% of the audience comprised Japanese corporates, underlining the deepening India–Japan collaboration.
“The Next Billion Forum has become a unique platform where entrepreneurs, investors, and corporates from India and Japan co-create solutions for Bharat 2047. This year’s conversations reinforced that the next decade belongs to impact entrepreneurs who are building strong, purpose-driven businesses,” said Vipul Jindal, CEO of Next Bharat Ventures.
Key Highlights from the Forum
- Powerful Keynotes & Panels: Sessions explored themes like entrepreneurship for Bharat 2047, digital public infrastructure, women’s economic participation, and impact investing.
- Strategic MoU: A collaboration was announced between Atypical Advantage, Uno Minda Group, and Next Bharat Ventures to create large-scale livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities.
- India–Japan Exchange: In the past year, more than 50 Japanese companies and 80+ professionals have engaged with Next Bharat. Three Japanese multinationals have even deployed employees for a year-long immersion in India.
The forum also marked the official launch of the third cohort of the Impact Startup Residency Program, with applications now open for revenue-generating impact startups (₹50 lakh+ ARR) working in sectors such as agriculture, health, climate, livelihoods, financial inclusion, and other social impact areas.
Founders can apply at nextbharat.in/apply.
Founded to empower entrepreneurs tackling socio-economic challenges in India’s rural and informal economy, Next Bharat Ventures has, through its Residency Program, supported 26 startups to date, impacting over 1,46,000 lives while building strong bridges between India and Japan.
