MUMBAI, May 4: WAVEX 2025, the flagship startup showcase under the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), emerged as a dynamic platform for fostering entrepreneurship and investment in India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector, as the two-day event concluded in Mumbai.
Opening the session, Ashutosh Mohle, Joint Director at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, laid out the initiative’s vision of creating a national platform to scale media startups.
“WAVEX is designed to nurture early-stage innovators and connect them directly with investors to grow the M&E ecosystem,” he said.
The Internet and Mobile Association of India’s (IMAI) Chief Growth Officer, Sandeep Jhingran, shared that over 1,000 startups applied to participate.
“Thirty were selected to pitch one-on-one with investors, and more than half are already in active talks,” he noted, calling it a much-needed focused effort in the media tech space.
Investor Rajesh Joshi of Warmup Ventures, who was once a startup founder himself, said the initiative had come “full circle” for him.
“We’re now in discussions with 11 of these startups. The potential here is undeniable.”
Mustafa Harnesswala, founder of CABIL, addressed the historic hesitation to fund M&E ventures.
“Traditionally, investors have stayed away from this space. But WAVES is changing that. We’re not only building a dedicated angel network but also looking at global partnerships to expand impact.”
In response to media queries, Joshi highlighted Giggle, a startup working on a content platform that helps users avoid cyberbullying and explicit content, as a “benchmark for responsible innovation.”
When asked about gender representation, Jhingran acknowledged that women entrepreneurs were underrepresented in this edition.
“It’s an area we must and will do better in. Future editions will prioritize inclusive participation,” he said.
Harnesswala also pointed to the critical need for monetisation models for content creators.
“We need to ensure creators aren’t just producing but earning. Initiatives like WAVES are key to bridging that monetisation gap.”
The event reaffirmed the growing investor interest in M&E innovation and the government’s commitment to giving startups in the space national visibility and global reach.
