What happens when bold vision meets a nation hungry for revolution?

In a space buzzing with ideas, Sarla Aviation made a bold impression at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, igniting conversations around the future of urban transportation and India’s path toward sustainable, smarter, more inclusive mobility.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal attended Startup Mahakumbh 2025 across all three days, actively engaging with founders and thought leaders throughout the event. In his keynote address, he urged Indian startups to look beyond quick-service models and channel their innovation toward high-impact sectors like electric mobility, robotics, and deep tech. By offering a candid perspective, he opened up space for honest conversations.

Adrian Schmidt, Founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation, contributed as a panelist and moderator in two of the summit’s most future-facing conversations, joined by industry experts and policymakers to unpack “The Electrification of the Mobility Sector and its Climate Impact” and “Systemic Challenges in Indian Mobility.”

Alongside him, Rakesh Gaonkar, Founder and CTO of Sarla Aviation, brought his expertise to “Powering the Future: The Importance of Integrated Manufacturing and Policy Incentives in EV Innovation,” a panel that unpacked how smart manufacturing and well-aligned policy can fast-track India’s EV transformation.

Together, these sessions explored possibilities and raised the right questions shaping the next chapter of India’s mobility story:

• Why rely on global supply chains when we have the talent and tools to build our own, right here?

• What would Indian mobility look like if our vehicles were designed for our roads, our people, and our climate — from the ground up?

• Can we build inclusive mobility without decentralised infrastructure that understands India’s sheer diversity?

The overarching message? India doesn’t need imported solutions — it needs innovations deeply rooted in its own social and environmental fabric.

The electrification panel talked about clean mobility not just as a as a nice-to-have but as a game-changer. With the right infrastructure and some serious cross-sector teamwork, India is perfectly positioned to lead the world in green, resilient transportation. It's not just a revolution; it’s a strategic opportunity for India to shape the future of mobility.

“At Sarla, we’re not just building air taxis — we’re creating an ecosystem for equitable sky mobility in India,” said Adrian. “Events like Startup Mahakumbh give us a rare chance to connect with the right people, question the status quo, and shape a smarter future.”

At the Sarla booth, attendees got a sneak peek into India’s first clean, economically viable air taxi concept. The company’s prototype, vision, and community-first approach attracted hundreds of visitors, from curious citizens to investors and innovators.

With test flights planned soon, Sarla Aviation is entering a pivotal phase — one where air mobility becomes not just futuristic, but feasible for India. With hundreds visiting the booth and conversations buzzing across social media, Sarla’s presence at the event underscored a growing public and institutional interest in futuristic, yet grounded mobility solutions built for India.