Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh today launched DIGI-SAPNE 2.0 at the Imperial Hall of Classic Grande, Imphal. The programme was organised by the Planning Department, Government of Manipur.
Digi-SAPNE (Startup Acceleration Program for North East) is an initiative of AIC-SMUTBI supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the North East region. The programme offers mentorship, market access, funding opportunities and financial assistance of up to Rs. 80 lakh to selected startups, aiming to help them scale, generate employment and compete at national and global levels while ensuring inclusive regional growth.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that India has transformed from a job-seeking nation to a job-creating nation over the past decades and that DIGI-SAPNE 2.0 carries this national vision to the grassroots level in Manipur.
He expressed satisfaction that Startup Manipur has been recognised as a leader in developing a strong startup ecosystem under the 5th Edition of the States’ Startup Ecosystem Ranking, terming it a testament to the collective efforts of officials, institutions, entrepreneurs and policymakers.
He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem, stating that DIGI-SAPNE 2.0 is designed to convert the ideas of students and aspiring entrepreneurs into scalable enterprises. Urging youths to think boldly and act confidently, he said innovation stems from experimentation, perseverance and continuous learning. He also appreciated Startup Manipur for emerging as a top performer among the North Eastern states and highlighted the role startups can play in building a united and progressive Manipur.
Chief Secretary Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel, in his address, said that the strength of an innovation ecosystem lies not only in policy announcements but in effective implementation. He noted that initiatives like DIGI-SAPNE 2.0 translate policy vision into tangible grassroots impact.
He informed that under the Manipur Credit Guarantee Scheme, credit support of Rs. 106.87 crore has been extended to more than 1,400 entrepreneurs.
Under the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (CMESS) – One Family One Livelihood Scheme, bank loans amounting to Rs. 3.4 crore along with subsidies of Rs. 1.02 crore have been provided to 60 entrepreneurs. Nearly 2,000 beneficiaries and 1,500 candidates have completed the mandatory Entrepreneurship Development Programme, he added.
During the programme, the Chief Minister distributed Certificates of Recognition to several startups, including Kiita Dumbang Mountain Winds Pvt. Ltd., Labdig Innovations and Systems Pvt. Ltd., Stemcorp Dynamics, Addble Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Mwire Labs, Uplauz India Pvt. Ltd., UraCab Private Ltd., Ebb & Flow Online Studio, Sajilo Events, HN Technovations LLP, Greenbiotech EcoSolutions Pvt. Ltd. and Medilane HealthTech and Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.
He also launched INSIGHT smart glasses developed by Akumen AI, a startup from Manipur.
Vice-Chancellor of Manipur Technical University Prof. W. Chandbabu Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim Manipal University Prof. Gopalakrishna Prabhu, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India, Sanjiv Singh, Director, NITI Aayog, Prateek Deshmukh, along with senior officials and entrepreneurs from across the North Eastern states, attended the programme.
