Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]:
The World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 is emerging as a transformative platform for startups in the media and entertainment (M\&E) sector, combining innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment under one roof in Mumbai.
Ashutosh Mohle, Joint Director at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), emphasized WAVES 2025 as an “excellent opportunity to showcase creativity” and a powerful space for startups. Speaking to ANI, he highlighted the creative energy of the summit, saying, “You can see new startups bringing innovative solutions to reduce production costs and enhance entertainment experiences.”
Mohle praised WAVES for evolving into a “university in four days,” offering masterclasses and sessions featuring industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. These sessions guided creators and entrepreneurs on leveraging generative AI to expand reach and visibility.
The flagship WAVES startup initiative has seen an enthusiastic response. Sandeep Jhingran, Chief Growth Officer at the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI), shared, “We received over a thousand applications. Thirty startups pitched to investors, and over half are already in active conversations.”
Investor Rajesh Joshi from Warmup Ventures, a former founder himself, reflected on his journey, saying, “Life has come full circle… We’re now speaking with 11 startups.” Mustafa Harnesswala, founder of CABIL, lauded WAVES for breaking investment hesitancy in the M\&E sector: “We’re now working on a dedicated angel network and exploring global collaborations.”
During a panel Q\&A, investors were asked how they identify meaningful content. Joshi cited Giggle, a startup focused on avoiding cyberbullying and explicit content, as a model of responsible innovation.
Addressing gender representation, Jhingran acknowledged the underrepresentation of women founders: “We’re committed to doing better and aim to see more women entrepreneurs in future editions.”
Harnesswala stressed the importance of monetisation strategies for content creators, stating that WAVES helps fill the gap between creativity and commercial viability.
WAVES 2025 continues to position itself as a vital ecosystem for aspiring entrepreneurs in the creative economy, bridging industry knowledge, investment, and global opportunity.