Tripura CM Manik Saha launches Digi SAPNE 3.0 in Agartala, with Rs 80 lakh distributed among eight Northeast startups and a focus on tourism, agri-tech, AI, mentoring and technology-driven entrepreneurship.
The Digital Startup Acceleration Program for North East (Digi SAPNE) 3.0 was formally launched today by Chief Minister of Tripura, Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, at the Agartala Women’s College Auditorium, marking another significant milestone in strengthening the technology and startup ecosystem of the Northeastern region.
The programme was attended by Pranajit Singha Roy, Minister for Finance, Planning & Coordination and Information Technology, Government of Tripura; Kishor Barman, Minister for Higher Education, Kiran Kumar Gitte, Secretary to Chief Minister; Dr. Prashant Kumar Goyal, Secretary, IT & Finance, Rajeshwar Singh Jenwar, Director and Head, Software Industry Promotion Division, MeitY, Dr. Gopalakrishna Prabhu, Vice Chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University and Chairman, AIC-SMUTBI; and Jeya Ragul Geshan B., Government of Tripura, along with startups, students, innovators and ecosystem stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Saha called upon young innovators to convert their ideas into useful products, services and sustainable enterprises, emphasising the important role of technology and entrepreneurship in creating employment and economic opportunities.
The Chief Minister highlighted the growing support available to young entrepreneurs through startup programmes implemented with the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and specifically acknowledged the contribution of AIC-SMUTBI in supporting startups from the Northeast through Digi SAPNE.
He noted that since the launch of Digi SAPNE, Tripura startups have benefited from the programme, with startups receiving financial support of Rs 10 lakh each under Digi SAPNE 2.0. He further highlighted that Digi SAPNE 3.0 will provide grants of up to Rs 80 lakh in aggregate support to high-potential startups, strengthening the pipeline of technology-driven enterprises emerging from the Northeast.
The Chief Minister emphasised that such programmes can help young people move from job seekers to job creators, while enabling startups to build scalable businesses based on local opportunities and regional strengths.
Digi SAPNE 3.0 to Focus on Emerging Opportunities
Implemented by AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI) with funding support from MeitY, Government of India, Digi SAPNE is designed to identify, mentor and accelerate early-stage startups from the eight Northeastern states.
The third edition will place particular emphasis on areas including tourism, agri-tech and Artificial Intelligence, sectors with significant potential for the Northeast and Tripura.
Through structured acceleration, mentoring, market access, investor engagement and financial support, Digi SAPNE seeks to help promising startups move from early-stage innovation towards sustainable and scalable enterprises.
MeitY Calls for Problem-led Innovation
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajeshwar Singh Jenwar, Director and Head, Software Industry Promotion Division, MeitY, emphasised that innovation begins with identifying a problem rather than simply developing technology.
He highlighted challenges such as agricultural losses, limited access to healthcare, disaster response and drinking water as opportunities for young entrepreneurs to develop locally relevant solutions. Referring to Tripura’s floods, its GI-tagged Queen Pineapple and its substantial bamboo resources, he urged students and innovators to look at challenges around them as opportunities for entrepreneurship.
He also highlighted the example of HN Technovations, founded at Tripura University under the leadership of Prof. Harjeet Nath, which developed a portable solar and electric water purification system for disaster-relief situations. The solution was used during the Silchar floods and subsequently supplied approximately 5,000 litres of safe drinking water in two days at a relief camp in Gomati district during the August 2024 floods.
Calling upon young people to participate in the Seva First Innovation Challenge, Jenwar urged them to focus on one fundamental question: “What problem can I solve?”
He encouraged students to utilise nearby college laboratories and incubation centres, build multidisciplinary teams and work closely with people who understand the problems being addressed.
Rs 80 Lakh Distributed to Eight Startups
A key highlight of the programme was the distribution of Rs 10 lakh each to eight startups, amounting to Rs 80 lakh, selected from Digi SAPNE Cohort 2.0 during the recently concluded Himalayan Investors Meet (HIM ’26) in Gangtok.
The eight startups, representing seven Northeastern states, are: The financial support is intended to help these startups strengthen their products, technology, operations and market outreach, while positioning them for further investment and commercial scale.
Building a Pan-Northeast Startup Ecosystem
The launch of Digi SAPNE 3.0 in Tripura reinforces the growing collaboration between MeitY, Government of India, Government of Tripura and AIC-SMUTBI to create stronger pathways for innovation and entrepreneurship across the Northeast.
The participation of startups from multiple Northeastern states and the distribution of grants to enterprises emerging from different parts of the region demonstrate the programme’s pan-Northeast approach.
Digi SAPNE seeks to create an ecosystem where entrepreneurs can build businesses rooted in the needs and strengths of the Northeast while accessing national markets, investors, mentors, technology support and institutional networks.
The programme also provides an important platform for students and young innovators to transition from ideas to enterprises and from local solutions to scalable businesses.
About AIC-SMUTBI
AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI) is an Atal Incubation Centre supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and established in partnership with Sikkim Manipal University. AIC-SMUTBI works to strengthen the startup ecosystem across the Northeast through incubation, acceleration, mentoring, funding facilitation, market access and investor engagement.
| Also Read: CM Saha to launch Digi-SAPNE 3.0 and youth schemes |
Digi SAPNE – Digital Startup Acceleration Program for North East is one of AIC-SMUTBI’s flagship initiatives, supported by MeitY, focused on accelerating technology and digital startups from the eight Northeastern states and connecting them with opportunities at the national and global level.
