Nirmana-100 Convergence Unites Leaders to Transform AECO Sector

18 Nov 2025 CW Team

Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, IAS (Former Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh), addressed India’s rapid urbanisation, projecting an urban population of 880 million by 2051—equivalent to “building one Chicago every year.” He urged startups to leverage AI, robotics, BIM, and 3D printing to strengthen housing, sustainability, and climate resilience. Pointing to India’s 200,000-strong startup base, he highlighted the 15 per cent government procurement reservation and the emerging USD 2 trillion GovTech opportunity by 2032.

Shri Abhijit Sinha, Technocrat and Programme Director of the National Highways for Electric Vehicles, outlined India’s improvement in Ease of Doing Business, rising from rank 142 to 63, supported by reforms that reduced approval timelines from 250 to 40 days. He noted the role of digital systems in urban governance and India’s potential to reach a USD 35 trillion sustainable economy by 2047.

Shri K. Karthikeyan, Vice-President at Invest India, presented national initiatives such as the India Investment Grid, the National Single Window System (NSWS), and the One District One Product (ODOP) programme. He encouraged startups to shift towards revenue-led, globally competitive business models.

Vijay Gupta, Founder and CEO of SoftTech Engineer, emphasised the importance of ground-tested innovation, stating that India’s AECO sector must adopt digital-first, citizen-centric platforms powered by AI, data, and cloud technologies to drive measurable impact. He noted that Nirmana-100 aims to create an ecosystem where startups can scale and showcase solutions globally.

Event highlights included Ancrew Global announcing up to USD 100,000 in AWS credits for AECO startups, potentially reducing infrastructure costs significantly. The Startup Innovation Showcase featured ten emerging ventures offering solutions in generative design, BIM collaboration, AR/VR construction, circular materials, AI-powered site intelligence, and net-zero digital twins. Participating startups included VisnetAI, Trace Resource, Vanya Concrete Technologies, Vavetek AI, GriHub, MProcure, Techillusions, Logiclens, Builtdesign, and Redevelopment Bazaar.

Investors from Suvan Ventures, Pentathlon Ventures, Indian Angel Network, Pune Angels, and MU Ventures interacted with founders, highlighting strong investor confidence in the AECO sector. The event also saw participation from Microsoft for Startups, Wadhwani Foundation, IDFC First Bank, and key academic institutions.

Nirmana-100 concluded with a shared commitment to position India as a global innovation hub in the AECO space. By fostering collaboration among startups, policymakers, and investors, the event set a benchmark for sustainable, technology-driven growth in India’s construction and infrastructure ecosystem.

The Nirmana-100 Innovation Convergence, organised by AmpliNxt and SoftTech Engineers Limited, concluded in Pune, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and innovators from across India. The event served as a platform to reimagine the future of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector and support India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. A major highlight was the participation of national-level policymakers discussing government programmes and opportunities for AECO-focused innovators. Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, IAS (Former Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh), addressed India’s rapid urbanisation, projecting an urban population of 880 million by 2051—equivalent to “building one Chicago every year.” He urged startups to leverage AI, robotics, BIM, and 3D printing to strengthen housing, sustainability, and climate resilience. Pointing to India’s 200,000-strong startup base, he highlighted the 15 per cent government procurement reservation and the emerging USD 2 trillion GovTech opportunity by 2032. Shri Abhijit Sinha, Technocrat and Programme Director of the National Highways for Electric Vehicles, outlined India’s improvement in Ease of Doing Business, rising from rank 142 to 63, supported by reforms that reduced approval timelines from 250 to 40 days. He noted the role of digital systems in urban governance and India’s potential to reach a USD 35 trillion sustainable economy by 2047. Shri K. Karthikeyan, Vice-President at Invest India, presented national initiatives such as the India Investment Grid, the National Single Window System (NSWS), and the One District One Product (ODOP) programme. He encouraged startups to shift towards revenue-led, globally competitive business models. Vijay Gupta, Founder and CEO of SoftTech Engineer, emphasised the importance of ground-tested innovation, stating that India’s AECO sector must adopt digital-first, citizen-centric platforms powered by AI, data, and cloud technologies to drive measurable impact. He noted that Nirmana-100 aims to create an ecosystem where startups can scale and showcase solutions globally. Event highlights included Ancrew Global announcing up to USD 100,000 in AWS credits for AECO startups, potentially reducing infrastructure costs significantly. The Startup Innovation Showcase featured ten emerging ventures offering solutions in generative design, BIM collaboration, AR/VR construction, circular materials, AI-powered site intelligence, and net-zero digital twins. Participating startups included VisnetAI, Trace Resource, Vanya Concrete Technologies, Vavetek AI, GriHub, MProcure, Techillusions, Logiclens, Builtdesign, and Redevelopment Bazaar. Investors from Suvan Ventures, Pentathlon Ventures, Indian Angel Network, Pune Angels, and MU Ventures interacted with founders, highlighting strong investor confidence in the AECO sector. The event also saw participation from Microsoft for Startups, Wadhwani Foundation, IDFC First Bank, and key academic institutions. Nirmana-100 concluded with a shared commitment to position India as a global innovation hub in the AECO space. By fostering collaboration among startups, policymakers, and investors, the event set a benchmark for sustainable, technology-driven growth in India’s construction and infrastructure ecosystem.

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