Patna: In a major push to strengthen Bihar’s innovation and startup ecosystem, the state government, in partnership with the Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) and YourStory Media, launched the Bihar Ideas Festival on Friday. The initiative aims to nurture entrepreneurship in every district of Bihar, with a focus on rural youth, women, and grassroots innovators.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at B-HUB, Maurya Lok, and addressed by Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, YourStory Founder & CEO Shradha Sharma, CIMP Director Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, and CIMP CEO and TiE Patna President Kumod Kumar.
At the heart of the initiative is the Bihar Ideas Yatra, a 45-day campaign that will travel across all 38 districts, aiming to unearth over 100,000 raw ideas from students, artisans, women entrepreneurs, and micro-businesses. The campaign will be supported by E-Cells, District Industries Centres (DICs), MSME offices, KVIC, and other grassroots enablers.
The campaign will offer mentorship, investor access, digital visibility, and funding support under the Bihar Startup Policy 2022. According to Minister Nitish Mishra, Bihar’s startup ecosystem is already showing rapid growth: registered startups have nearly tripled in the past year, rising from 586 to 1,522. He also announced the launch of a new Bihar Innovation Board, which has received over 1,700 ideas since its formation.
The Department of Industries has committed to strengthening this momentum through micro-initiatives, seed funding, and active implementation of policy support. Citizens will also be invited to suggest improvements to the policy during the Yatra.
CIMP, the lead academic partner in the initiative, will play a central role in mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs. “We are committed to supporting innovators with the guidance and resources they need to thrive,” said Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, Director of CIMP.
Kumod Kumar, also heading TiE Patna, announced a coordinated outreach tour in collaboration with all district startup cells and YourStory. “We will go to the remotest corners of Bihar, listen to unheard ideas, and turn them into viable businesses,” he said.
The Bihar Ideas Festival, scheduled to follow the Yatra, will serve as a flagship platform where selected founders will pitch their ventures, network with investors, and showcase their innovations. YourStory Media will amplify the stories of 50 high-potential startups, offering them national exposure and investor connects.
“Entrepreneurship must not remain limited to Patna,” said Shradha Sharma, who has also been onboarded as a mentor at CIMP. “Our goal is to make unicorns rise from every district of Bihar. Everyone with a dream deserves a platform, and we are here to build that platform.”
