Digi-SAPNE 3.0 roll-out in Tripura has given fresh momentum to innovation and startup growth in the State and Northeast, bringing young entrepreneurs, technology leaders and policymakers together in Agartala to promote problem-led innovation and technology-driven businesses.
Key Takeaways
- HN Technovations from Tripura showcased how a local disaster-relief challenge can lead to a practical technology enterprise.
- Digi-SAPNE 3.0 will focus on tourism, agri-tech and Artificial Intelligence while supporting early-stage startups across the Northeast.
- Eight startups from seven Northeastern states received ₹80 lakh under Digi-SAPNE Cohort 2.0, with each startup getting ₹10 lakh.
A disaster-relief innovation from Tripura University took centre stage at the launch of Digi-SAPNE 3.0 in Agartala, highlighting how identifying a real community problem can become the foundation for a technology-driven enterprise.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha launched the third edition of the programme on Thursday. The event placed problem-led innovation at the heart of the discussion on sustainable entrepreneurship through startup growth in the Northeast.
A portable water purification system developed by HN Technovations provided the key example. The startup, founded at Tripura University under the leadership of Prof Harjeet Nath, developed the system for disaster-relief situations.
HN Technovations Turns Disaster Need Into Innovation
HN Technovations developed a portable solar and electric water purification system to address drinking-water challenges during disasters.
The system found practical use during floods. It was used during the Silchar floods and later supplied around 5,000 litres of safe drinking water within two days at a relief camp in Gomati district during the August 2024 floods.
MeitY Director and Head of the Software Industry Promotion Division Rajeshwar Singh Jenwar highlighted the startup as an example of problem-led entrepreneurship.
He urged students and young innovators to begin with a simple question: “What problem can I solve?”
Jenwar said young entrepreneurs should examine challenges around them before deciding what technology to develop. He identified agricultural losses, limited healthcare access, disaster response and drinking water as areas where locally relevant solutions could emerge.
‘What Problem Can I Solve?’
Jenwar also addressed participants in the Seva First Innovation Challenge and encouraged them to focus on community needs.
He urged students to use nearby college laboratories and incubation centres. He also encouraged them to form multidisciplinary teams and work with people who understand the problems they seek to solve.
The approach places problem identification before technology development. HN Technovations demonstrated how that process can produce a solution with practical applications in disaster relief.
Digi-SAPNE 3.0 Targets Tourism, Agri-Tech and AI
Digi-SAPNE 3.0 expands the programme with a focus on tourism, agri-tech and Artificial Intelligence.
AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation (AIC-SMUTBI) implements the programme with funding support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
The programme aims to identify, mentor and accelerate early-stage startups from the eight Northeastern states. It offers structured acceleration, mentoring, market access, investor engagement and financial support.
The initiative seeks to help startups develop early-stage ideas into sustainable and scalable enterprises.
₹80 Lakh Distributed to Eight Startups
The launch also featured the distribution of ₹80 lakh among eight startups selected under Digi-SAPNE Cohort 2.0. Each startup received ₹10 lakh.
The startups were selected at the recently concluded Himalayan Investors Meet (HIM ’26) in Gangtok. The beneficiaries represent seven Northeastern states.
The recipients include Tripura-based HN Technovations Pvt. Ltd., founded by Harjeet Nath. Assam-based beneficiaries include Labdig Innovations and System Pvt. Ltd. and Stemcorp Dynamics Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Other recipients include Addble Solution Pvt. Ltd. of Manipur, Mwire Labs Pvt. Ltd. of Meghalaya, Uracab Pvt. Ltd. of Nagaland, Sajilo Services Pvt. Ltd. of Sikkim and Peipung Pvt. Ltd. of Mizoram.
The grants will support product development, technology, operations and market outreach. The financial assistance will also help the startups pursue further investment and commercial expansion.
Manik Saha Urges Youth to Become Job Creators
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha called on young innovators to turn ideas into useful products, services and sustainable businesses.
He highlighted technology and entrepreneurship as avenues for employment generation and wider economic opportunities.
Dr Saha also acknowledged MeitY’s support for Northeastern startups and recognised AIC-SMUTBI’s role in implementing Digi-SAPNE.
He noted that Tripura startups had received ₹10 lakh each under Digi-SAPNE 2.0. He said the latest edition would further strengthen the pipeline of technology-driven enterprises emerging from the Northeast.
Government, MeitY and Startup Ecosystem Join Launch
The launch brought together senior representatives from the Tripura government, MeitY and the regional startup ecosystem.
Finance, Planning & Coordination and Information Technology Minister Pranajit Singha Roy and Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman attended the programme.
Chief Minister’s Secretary Kiran Kumar Gitte, IT and Finance Secretary Dr Prashant Kumar Goyal and Tripura DIT Director Jeya Ragul Geshan B, IFS, were also present.
MeitY Director Rajeshwar Singh Jenwar attended alongside Sikkim Manipal University Vice Chancellor and AIC-SMUTBI Chairman Dr Gopalakrishna Prabhu.
Startup founders, students, innovators and other members of the regional startup ecosystem also participated.
Pan-Northeast Network for Startup Growth
Digi-SAPNE 3.0 brings together MeitY, the Government of Tripura and AIC-SMUTBI to strengthen the startup ecosystem across the Northeast.
The programme seeks to connect entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, markets, technology support and institutional networks.
Its pan-Northeast approach covers startups from all eight states. It aims to help entrepreneurs build businesses around regional needs and strengths while creating pathways to national and global markets.
AIC-SMUTBI is an Atal Incubation Centre supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and established in partnership with Sikkim Manipal University.
Through incubation, acceleration, mentoring, funding facilitation, market access and investor engagement, AIC-SMUTBI works to strengthen the Northeast’s startup ecosystem.
Digi-SAPNE, or the Digital Startup Acceleration Program for North East, remains one of its flagship initiatives. Supported by MeitY, it focuses on technology and digital startups across the eight Northeastern states.
