SMilE Summit · An NWN initiative

Turning connections into economic opportunity.

SMilE brings entrepreneurs, MSMEs, technology owners, research organisations, investors, enterprises and institutions into one curated environment—then helps relevant conversations progress towards adoption, partnerships, investment and growth.

Explore SMilE See how SMilE works

From meaningful introductions to measurable outcomes.

A participant asks a question during a SMilE Summit session in an occupied auditorium — Knowledge exchange

Participants examine and discuss technology at a SMilE Summit showcase — Technology discovery

Two SMilE Summit participants shake hands during a networking conversation — Curated connections

Representatives mark an MoU signing at SMilE Summit — Documented outcomes

1st Edition Partners

Why SMilE exists

A summit should create movement—not merely attendance.

SMilE is a curated collaboration initiative designed to turn relevant introductions into business partnerships, technology adoption and economic growth.

SMilE brings together Startups, MSMEs, Innovators, Investors and Large Enterprises— alongside the institutions and technology organisations that enable them to grow. The summit is the point of activation; the ambition is lasting economic opportunity.

Curated relevance before volume Purposeful engagement over passive networking Regional prosperity through collaboration

More than a conference

Designed for decisions—not just discussions.

The conference creates shared context. Curated formats around it help the right participants examine a specific opportunity, meet privately and move towards a practical next step.

On stageIndustry perspectives and real problem statements

Behind closed doorsOne-to-one pitches and focused conversations

Across the tablePre-scheduled meetings built around relevance

Towards outcomesClear pathways towards pilots, partnerships and MoUs

Industry-leader conversations

Focused conference sessions with business leaders, investors, technology experts, policymakers and institutional decision-makers.

Context, insight and direction

Closed-door pitch sessions

Selected entrepreneurs and MSMEs present privately to relevant investors, enterprises, technology partners and institutions.

Confidential, high-intent dialogue

Pre-scheduled face-to-face meetings

Meetings are curated around business needs, technologies, investment interests, problem statements and partnership opportunities.

More relevant people across the table

Problem statements & technology discovery

Connect real enterprise and MSME requirements with startups, products, research capabilities and technologies that may solve them.

Practical routes to validation

Investment & growth conversations

Bring suitable ventures and MSMEs into better-contextualised conversations with investors and institutions aligned to their stage and opportunity.

A clearer capital pathway

Pilot, procurement & partnership pathways

Help relevant parties define a practical next step—product evaluation, a pilot, procurement dialogue, partnership or technology-transfer pathway.

Intent shaped into next steps

Curated formats are subject to relevance, opportunity fit and participant selection.

One ecosystem, shared momentum

Built for people who can turn opportunity into progress.

Each participant brings distinct value—and gains more relevant access to the people, knowledge, technology, capital or markets they need.

Entrepreneurs & startups

Meet markets, mentors, investors, institutions and potential collaborators with the context to help an idea move forward.

Validation, access and growth pathways

MSMEs

Discover innovation, new products, technology partners and entrepreneurial talent that can strengthen competitiveness.

Adoption, partnerships and expansion

Technology & research organisations

Bring promising technologies closer to entrepreneurs and enterprises that can validate, license and commercialise them.

Transfer, pilots and commercialisation

Investors

Engage with a curated pipeline of ventures, MSMEs and opportunities grounded in real economic needs.

Relevant, better-contextualised opportunities

Enterprises

Source innovation, build supplier relationships and meet entrepreneurs capable of solving real business problems.

Pilots, procurement and strategic alliances

Governments & institutions

Convene the actors needed to activate entrepreneurship, technology adoption and inclusive regional development.

Stronger local innovation ecosystems

SMilE also works with incubators, accelerators, universities, industry associations, development organisations and other ecosystem partners that help opportunities move.

Opportunity pathways

Which opportunity do you want to advance?

Market accessTechnology discovery & transferPilots & procurementInvestment readiness & capitalStrategic partnershipsResearch commercialisation

SMilE Summit participants discussing technology at a showcase — Technology discovery in action

Entrepreneurs discussing a product during SMilE Summit

Technology & innovation access

Find the technology—not just the conversation.

SMilE helps entrepreneurs, MSMEs and enterprises identify relevant technologies and products through technology-transfer organisations, universities, research institutions, national laboratories, intellectual-property owners, R&D organisations and contract research organisations (CROs).

The objective is practical: understand what is available, assess its relevance and application potential, identify the appropriate pathway towards validation, licensing or adoption, and connect with partners capable of taking it to market.

Discover

Relevant technologies, products and research capabilities.

Assess relevance

Application potential, use cases and the appropriate path towards further validation.

Transfer & commercialise

Licensing, partnerships and market-facing execution.

Explore technology transfer

Beyond the summit day

The summit begins the connection. SMilE helps sustain the momentum.

A meaningful introduction is only the beginning. SMilE supports relevant follow-through so that promising conversations can progress towards evaluation, pilots, investment, partnerships, market access or technology adoption.

Relevant introductionsStructured follow-upOutcome pathways

Impact from the inaugural edition

Purposeful curation. Tangible outcomes.

8 August 2024 · Kalam Convention Centre, AMTZ, Visakhapatnam

The first SMilE Summit brought a diverse ecosystem together and converted selected conversations into documented next steps.

264

participants in the inaugural SMilE Summit

countries represented by international startup delegates

startups advanced to the next investor round

MSMEs advanced to the next investor round

MSME–startup MoUs facilitated

technology-transfer MoUs facilitated

Million Dollar Idea Challenge winners

Inaugural edition participation

Organisations represented at the inaugural SMilE Summit.

The inaugural edition welcomed participants from enterprises, technology companies, MSMEs, startups, healthcare, education and emerging sectors—creating a room with diverse operating experience and collaboration potential.

Direct participationTech Mahindra delegateRegistered participant

Represented throughHithav PartnersAuthorised reseller

Represented throughKodefastAuthorised reseller

Represented throughBEACONAuthorised reseller

Organisations represented

Through registered participants and speakers at the inaugural SMilE Summit.

Caare Healthtech Services Pvt LtdDigitalex SolutionsSridevtekai Pvt LtdYallas Technology Solutions (OPC) Pvt LtdRailTel Corporation of India LimitedTeam Power Infrastructure India Pvt LtdSKILL Craft Engineering5WebDFS PayBezawada Offset PrintersESSKEE Innovative IT Solutions Pvt LtdGulabtribe LLPSrivari HospitalRETOSDigital WoM Services OPC Pvt LtdHithav PartnersKodefastSantha Farmers Market Pvt LtdAllaiBots Technologies Pvt LtdMalladi Healthcare Pvt LtdImmersive DentalSamanvi Med Tech Solutions Pvt LtdBotClub Pvt LtdBiom Innovations Pvt LtdBid AlertSrinivasa Institute of Engineering and TechnologyOceanautics Pvt LtdSri Lalitha Srinivasa EnterprisesVascan SolutionsVisalakshi Eco Friendly LandscapersPanacriti Extracts and Nutraceuticals Pvt LtdAvan Tech Innovation Pvt LtdShubhakruth Medical Genetics Pvt LtdLakshmi Narasimha TradersHotel Seasons ComfortBEACONBA Infotech Pvt LtdSPMVV-WBIFGourmande Global Cuisines Pvt LtdSasdal Enterprises Pvt LtdAtya EducationJivachithranam LLPShip With CareLinguisticUS Global SolutionsPricetymAspects DigiSpondbyteVisourceMavericksMy Access Pvt LtdMEINE ElectricSagacious IPNative Araku CoffeeAP Innovation SocietyDepartment of IT, Government of Andhra PradeshInspiredge IT SolutionsAll is WellSpeaking ChalkVCCI Women’s WingVisaka Speech & Hearing Charitable Trust

Organisation names and logos reflect participation through registered delegates, speakers or authorised channel partners. Representation does not imply sponsorship or endorsement.

The inaugural edition, in action

A summit built around participation.

From international exchange and questions from the floor to technology showcases and signed collaborations, these are moments from the inaugural SMilE Summit.

Representatives marking an MoU signing at SMilE Summit — CollaborationTurning intent into documented outcomes

International delegates participating in SMilE Summit — Global exchangePerspectives crossing markets and borders

Women innovators being recognised at SMilE Summit — LeadershipInnovation with diverse voices at the forefront

An engaged SMilE Summit audience during a session — ParticipationAn audience actively shaping the dialogue

A platform that can travel

Bring SMilE closer to the opportunities that matter.

SMilE can be shaped around the economic priorities of a region, sector or institution—while preserving the curation and outcome orientation at its core.

Regional editions

Activate a local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Bring founders, MSMEs, investors, institutions and markets into a shared regional agenda.

Sector-focused convenings

Concentrate expertise around an industry challenge.

Connect technology, research, enterprise demand and capital around a defined opportunity.

Institution-led programmes

Build a pathway from ambition to collaboration.

Create a curated platform aligned to public, corporate or ecosystem-development priorities.

Take the next step

What economic opportunity are you trying to unlock?

Explore an opportunity ↗Partner with SMilE ↗Bring SMilE to your region or sector ↗