Maharashtra – The New Startup Capital: CM Devendra Fadnavis

CM Honored with ‘TiE Mumbai Hall of Fame’ Award

Mumbai : Maharashtra has emerged as the most preferred destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Within just nine months, the state has attracted investments worth ₹1.39 lakh crore. With record-breaking growth in both the number of startups and investment inflows, Maharashtra has now become India’s new startup capital, stated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

At TiEcon Mumbai 2025: “Dhandha First”, one of the country’s leading entrepreneurial leadership summits, CM Devendra Fadnavis was honored with the prestigious “TiE Mumbai Hall of Fame” award for his remarkable contributions to infrastructure development, investment, and water conservation. The award was presented by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. The event was attended by dignitaries including TiE Mumbai Founder President Harish Mehta, Havas Media India CEO Uday Mohan, TiE Mumbai President Ranu Vohra, and Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma. On this occasion, CM Fadnavis also unveiled Harish Mehta’s book “Atulniya”.

Dedicating the award to the people of Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis remarked that this recognition is a testament to the work initiated in 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The state has witnessed significant infrastructure projects, especially in Mumbai and the MMR region, including the Coastal Road, Atal Setu, Metro, and the Vadhavan Port project, all of which symbolize good governance.

The Vadhavan Port will be three times larger than JNPT, India’s premier port. The project has commenced, and it will not only serve as a port but will also include an airport and a bullet train station, forming the foundation for Mumbai’s fourth metropolitan cluster.

In the field of water conservation, 14 different schemes from six departments were consolidated into a single initiative—the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, which aimed to make 25,000 villages drought-free. By 2019, 20,000 villages successfully implemented water conservation measures, increasing groundwater levels even in drought-prone Marathwada.

Visionary Leadership Recognized

CM Fadnavis was honored for his outstanding leadership in infrastructure, investment, and water conservation. His administration has spearheaded multiple projects, including roads, metro, railways, and urban transport, significantly improving connectivity and the quality of life in Maharashtra.

Under his pro-business policies, Maharashtra has emerged as the top investment destination, attracting both domestic and international investors. His focus on water conservation and sustainable resource management, especially through the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, has played a crucial role in tackling droughts and ensuring long-term water security for farmers.

Other Awardees

Several distinguished personalities were also honored at the event, including:

• Suvir Sujan, Co-founder & Managing Director, Nexus Venture Partners
• T.V. Mohandas Pai, Pioneer of India’s Startup Ecosystem
• Pravin Gandhi, Leading Investor in India’s Startup Landscape
• Dr. Vijay Kedia, Director, Kedia Securities (Big Bull & Pioneer Investor)
• Manish Gupta, Co-founder & CEO, Rezo AI
• Ganesh Krishnan & Meena Ganesh, India’s Startup Power Couple
• Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO
• Mumbai Tech Entrepreneurs Association, for their contribution to Mumbai’s tech ecosystem
• Ashutosh Valani, Founder, Renee Cosmetics
• Akash Gupta, Co-founder & CEO, Zypp Electric
• Manoj Mittal, Chairman & MD, SIDBI

Maharashtra’s startup and investment ecosystem continues to flourish under strong leadership, setting new benchmarks for the rest of India.