WAVEX 2025 Emerges as Catalyst for Media & Entertainment Startups at WAVES Summit in Mumbai

Mumbai: At the crossroads of creativity and capital, WAVEX 2025—the flagship startup initiative of the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES)—is fast becoming a beacon for India’s media and entertainment (M&E) innovators. Held at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, the platform has ignited new opportunities for startups by connecting them directly with investors, mentors, and global stakeholders.

Setting the stage, Ashutosh Mohle, Joint Director at the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), outlined WAVEX’s core vision: to nurture innovation in the M&E sector and provide a scalable platform for emerging startups. “We want to bring focus and policy support to help M&E entrepreneurs rise,” he said.

The initiative has already made waves. Sandeep Jhingran, Chief Growth Officer at the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI), revealed that over 1,000 applications were received from across the country. “Thirty of these startups pitched directly to investors, and more than half are already in active funding conversations,” he shared. “This level of engagement proves there’s a real appetite to innovate in the M&E space.”

Investor participation at WAVEX further underscored the sector’s shifting investment climate. Rajesh Joshi, Venue Partner at Warmup Ventures, shared a personal reflection on his journey from entrepreneur to investor. “Life has come a full circle,” he said, noting that his team is currently in talks with 11 promising startups from the summit.

Mustafa Harnesswala, Founder of CABIL, emphasized that initiatives like WAVES are breaking down old investment hesitations. “There has traditionally been reluctance to fund M&E ventures. WAVEX is changing that narrative,” he said. “We’re actively building a dedicated angel network for M&E and even exploring international collaborations to open up global channels.”

Responding to media queries, the panel shed light on key issues shaping the sector. On content responsibility, Rajesh Joshi cited “Giggle”, a startup app aiming to curb cyberbullying and explicit content online. “It’s a great example of innovation rooted in social accountability,” he said.

On gender representation, Sandeep Jhingran acknowledged a gap. “We noticed limited participation from women founders this year, and that’s something we’re determined to improve in future editions,” he affirmed.

WAVEX 2025 also introduced a dynamic format: 30 startups pitched one-on-one to investors over two days, facilitating deeper engagement and personalized feedback. Harnesswala added that more attention is needed on monetization strategies for content creators—an area where WAVEX provides much-needed guidance and exposure.

As WAVEX 2025 continues to unfold within the broader framework of the WAVES summit, it is quickly establishing itself as a game-changer in the startup ecosystem—breaking silos, inspiring bold ventures, and bridging the gap between creative ambition and commercial viability in India’s M&E industry.