WAVES Creators Corner anchors startup-led narrative at India AI Impact Summit

As India sharpens its position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) has unveiled a dedicated Pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, projecting India not just as a technology adopter but as a creator of indigenous, scalable and socially relevant AI solutions.

The Pavilion — anchored by the WAVES Creators Corner — is designed as a high-engagement media and dialogue space where policymakers, startups, creators and global industry leaders converge to discuss how AI can align with India's developmental priorities, cultural diversity and national security objectives.

Officials described the initiative as a strategic step to amplify India's AI innovation ecosystem on a global stage.

Projecting India as an AI Creator, Not Just a Consumer

The Pavilion foregrounds Indian startups working across healthcare, governance, media, content, and social impact, offering them curated visibility before domestic and international stakeholders.

"The idea is to ensure that Indian AI innovation is seen, understood and contextualised globally," an official associated with the initiative said. The format enables direct interaction between founders, policymakers, investors and global delegates attending the Summit.

The broader message: India's AI story is increasingly founder-led, product-driven and export-ready.

WAVES Creators Corner: Dialogue, Discovery and Digital Outreach

At the centre of the Pavilion's programming is the WAVES Creators Corner, which hosts structured panel discussions, fireside chats and startup showcases throughout the Summit.

All sessions are being live-streamed on WAVES OTT, Prasar Bharati's digital platform, extending access far beyond the physical venue and signalling the government's push toward digital-first public engagement.

The format blends policy discussions with startup storytelling — a shift from conventional government showcases to interactive, ecosystem-driven engagement.

YourStory Curates the Startup Narrative

The startup-focused programming is being curated by YourStory, underscoring a deliberate move toward founder-led storytelling.

Founder and CEO Shradha Sharma is moderating key sessions, including conversations on:

• AI sovereignty and strategic autonomy

• Social impact innovation

• Women leadership in AI

• Live founder pitch showcases

Industry observers note that the integration of a startup media platform within a government pavilion reflects a maturing innovation ecosystem where policy and entrepreneurship increasingly intersect.

Day-Wise Programming at the MoIB Pavilion

Monday, February 16

Access restricted during scheduled high-level engagements.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PMPanel: Showcasing Upcoming Startups (Set 1)

3:00 PM – 4:00 PMPanel: Showcasing Upcoming Startups (Set 2)

Tuesday, February 17

Focus: Governance, sovereignty and policy direction.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PMFireside Chat: India's AI MomentShradha Sharma in conversation with the Secretary, MoIB.

1:00 PM – 1:40 PMPanel: AI and SovereigntyDiscussion on data control, national security and indigenous AI development.

3:00 PM – 3:30 PMFireside Chat: KUKU FMFounder Lal Chand Bisu on local-language content and AI-driven distribution.

5:00 PM – 6:00 PMFireside Chat with Bhumi PednekarCinema, advocacy and emerging technologies.

Wednesday, February 18

Spotlight on inclusion and founder participation.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PMPanel: Showcasing Upcoming Startups (Set 3)

3:00 PM – 3:40 PMPanel: Women in AIWomen founders and leaders on innovation and leadership.

4:30 PM – 6:00 PMStartups Live with SSRapid two-minute founder pitches.

Thursday, February 19

No public access due to scheduled visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Friday, February 20

Focus on impact and Bharat-centric innovation.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PMPanel: AI Startups Making Social Impact

3:00 PMPanel: The Bharat OpportunityStartups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 India building AI solutions.

4:00 PMPanel: Showcasing Upcoming Startups (Set 4)

Aligning Innovation with National Priorities

Officials said the Pavilion's broader objective is to align Indian companies with global AI debates while retaining local context — particularly in areas such as:

• Responsible AI governance

• Data sovereignty

• Inclusive technology access

• AI for social impact

• Cultural and linguistic diversity

By bringing startups, creators and policymakers under one roof, the MoIB Pavilion is designed to translate India's AI policy vision into tangible, market-ready innovation.

Shaping the Global AI Conversation

With AI emerging as a defining technology of the decade — influencing sectors from defence and governance to media and healthcare — India is positioning itself as both a strategic stakeholder and a rule-shaper.

As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 unfolds, the MoIB Pavilion serves as a visible articulation of how India intends to shape, govern and scale artificial intelligence — on its own terms, with a strong domestic innovation backbone and global ambition.