Country’s Biggest Beachside Startup Fest to Rev Up Ecosystem

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The picturesque beachside of Kovalam near the Kerala capital will be brimming with waves of innovative ideas when India’s biggest beachside startup festival, Huddle Global, returns to the iconic site with its seventh edition on December 11, 2025.

Organized by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Huddle Global 2025 will see convergence of startups, investors, innovators, policymakers, and visionaries from India and abroad.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the prestigious three-day startup event at The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel, Kovalam.

As the nodal agency of the Kerala Government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state, KSUM has been organising ‘Huddle Kerala’ since 2018.

Over the years, the beachside startup festival has become the country’s eagerly awaited event due to its vibrant setting and powerful blend of innovation and opportunity it promises.

The conclave this year is set to draw thousands of participants representing over 15 countries, promising a bigger, bolder and greater global gathering that celebrates startup culture against the idyllic backdrop of the Arabian Sea.

Seeram Sambasiva Rao, Special Secretary (Electronics & IT Department) and Chairman, KSITM, said: “Huddle Global 2025 is Kerala’s commitment to nurturing bold ideas, fostering innovation driven enterprises, and inviting the world to co-create the future from our shores. As the digital economy reshapes global growth, Kerala is poised to lead as a hub of inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive startups.”

KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika said Huddle Global is Kerala’s confident statement of becoming an international tech destination.

“With over 6,000 startups, dozens of incubators, and a government that actively supports entrepreneurship, Kerala has emerged as one of Asia’s most inclusive and dynamic startup ecosystems. Huddle Global acts as the ecosystem’s beacon — offering guidance, visibility, credibility, and capital to founders building solutions for the world,” he said.

Anoop added that the upcoming edition is expected to draw more than 3,000 attendees, including 200 high-profile investors and 100 Angel investors, Fortune 500 leaders, venture capital firms, global mentors, and top-tier media. With international delegations and speakers already confirmed, the event is poised to make headlines as one of the world’s iconic innovation summits.

Huddle Global 2025 will serve as a dynamic platform for startups to showcase cutting-edge innovations, raise capital, find strategic partners, and receive mentorship from some of the most accomplished names in the industry.

It will feature keenly contested pitch competitions, startup expos, investor meets, corporate challenges, fireside chats, masterclasses, and curated networking experiences — all designed to accelerate entrepreneurial growth and cross-border collaboration.

Matching the global standards set by events like CES, Slush, and Web Summit, Huddle Global will deliver a carefully curated experience with an Indian identity — blending technology, storytelling, and market access with beachside charm.

Previous editions have yielded successful partnerships and MoUs with international firms, global investors, and government agencies. Notably, past events facilitated tie-ups with Belgium and Australia as the ecosystem’s allies.

The festival will spotlight futuristic sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fintech, Blockchain, Healthtech, Life Sciences, Augmented/Virtual Reality, Spacetech, e-Governance, and Internet of Things (IoT). Startups in these sectors will exhibit breakthrough ideas and gain opportunities for real-time investor feedback, pilot funding and global market exposure.

The conclave format includes open pitches, roundtables, branding challenges, mentor hours, and engagement tracks like Pitch-It-Right, Founders’ Meet, Impact 50, and the crowd-favourite Sun-Down Huddle.

Speakers from around the world will share their perspectives and insights on live themes, shedding light on the global business and technology landscape.