At the forefront of India’s AI journey, the AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to crown the country as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Anna Roy, NITI Aayog Program Director and WEP Mission Director, shared this vision amid the summit’s electrifying atmosphere.
Key announcement: a bespoke program for 150 handpicked women-led AI startups, enriched with partner-driven mentorship and networking to supercharge their trajectories.
Roy opened up to press on the sidelines about the selection marathon. ‘We were overwhelmed by 800+ submissions,’ she noted. ‘Internal vetting led to 63 virtual evaluations.’ With EY at the helm, the process was impeccably transparent—fully online, evaluator-anonymous.
The panel ‘Access to Acceleration: How WEP Supports Women Founders’ delved into WEP’s ecosystem-building prowess. Roy articulated, ‘Empowerment defines us: we catalyze change in behaviors, ensure knowledge flows timely, and back women from inception to growth.’
Spotlight on victors: Able Credit, Aso AI, Power Lifeline, Verify Technologies, Project Drives, Prosigo Language, Video HR, That Creating, Water Ultra AR, and Jiko AR, hailed for brilliance in all phases.
The event presses on at Bharat Mandapam till February 20, assembling elite minds from across borders to mold AI’s tomorrow, with India steering the course.