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.

From meaningful introductions to measurable outcomes.

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

Participants examine technology at the inaugural SMilE Summit — Technology discovery

Two participants shake hands at the inaugural SMilE Summit — Curated connections

Participants on stage at the inaugural SMilE Summit — Documented outcomes

1st Edition Partners

Why SMilE exists

Business connections with a purpose.

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 support them. Based in India, it aims to connect regional businesses to expertise, markets and capital, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

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

More than a conference

Conversations designed to lead somewhere.

Conference sessions create context. Focused pitches and meetings help participants explore opportunities and identify 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

One ecosystem, shared momentum

A place for different kinds of businesses to meet.

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 access Technology discovery & transfer Pilots & procurement Investment readiness & capital Strategic partnerships Research commercialisation

Participants speaking beside a product display at SMilE Summit

Technology & innovation access

Find technology for a business need.

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.

Impact from the inaugural edition

The inaugural edition in numbers.

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

international startups represented

startups selected by investors

MSMEs selected by investors

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

View all organisations represented

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

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.

Find the right conversation

What can SMilE help you explore?

Find investors

Startups and MSMEs can share their stage, funding needs and business goals. SMilE can help them connect with angel investors, venture capital firms and other investment networks.

Share your funding requirement

Find technology or a pilot partner

Businesses can describe a production or product challenge. Technology owners and innovators can share capabilities and look for potential adopters, validation partners or pilot hosts.

Find business partners and suppliers

Enterprises and MSMEs can explore supplier relationships, market access, research partnerships and commercial collaborations with suitable participants.

Discuss a business requirement

Take the next step

Tell us what you are working on.

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