Sanjeev Arora inaugurates food startup pitching event, industry leaders pledge support

Ludhiana (Punjab), November 19, 2025: Industry & Commerce Minister and Investment Promotion Minister Shri Sanjeev Arora inaugurated the Ludhiana Angels Network’s flagship programme ‘Fuelerator’ at Park Plaza on Wednesday.

The event drew some of the biggest names from Ludhiana’s business community, including representatives of Hero Enterprise, Highway Industries, Hero Eco Tech, Centex, and Vardhman. Seven revenue-stage food startups pitched their ideas before industry leaders, investors, and family offices seeking funding and mentorship support.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, Shri Himanshu Jain, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. Key stakeholders from Punjab’s startup ecosystem—including Startup Punjab, PSCST, Chandigarh Angels Network, TiE Chandigarh, IIT Ropar, Chitkara University, GNDEC, PAU, Gadvasu, and UBS—were also present.

The Fuelerator event was supported by Startup Punjab, Cremica Foods, Mrs Bector, Bonn Group of Industries, and Eastman Group. Several industrial houses expressed interest in providing funding or mentorship to the participating startups after being impressed by their pitches.

One of the event’s major highlights was the presence of Shri Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman of Hero Enterprise, who travelled from Delhi to attend.

A pioneer in India’s startup investment landscape, he closely followed the pitching session along with other industry veterans. Many Ludhiana industrialists reaffirmed their vision of ensuring that Punjab’s first unicorn emerges from Ludhiana—a city known for creating iconic brands such as Hero, Vardhman, MDH, Avon, Monte Carlo, Oswal, Duke, Octave, and more.

Shri S.K. Rai, Director of LAN and Chairman of the Punjab Startup Committee, emphasized that Fuelerator aims to serve as a launchpad for promising startups by offering both industry mentorship and funding. LAN CEO Shibananda Dash and Shri Rai expressed confidence that Ludhiana will soon produce some of India’s most promising new-age ventures, with Fuelerator acting as a key catalyst.

Event Highlights:
• Seven food and beverage startups pitched
• Fifteen food startups showcased their products
• Thirty startups from across Punjab participated
• Over 30 business houses attended
• Minister Sanjeev Arora and DC Himanshu Jain were Guests of the Day

The next edition of Fuelerator will focus on the textile sector and is scheduled for the last week of February 2026. It is expected to feature leading fashion and textile startups and introduce brands with the potential to make a national impact in apparel and fashion