Pune: Forty entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders were recognised at the Aavishkar Leadership Awards 2026, celebrating individuals and organisations that have transformed ideas into meaningful business and societal impact.
The awards ceremony was held on August 13 at Hotel Conrad, Koregaon Park, Pune, and was presented by Pune Times Mirror and Civic Mirror. Actor and entrepreneur Kunal Kapoor attended the event as the chief guest.
The awards focused on leaders who demonstrated the courage to pursue new ideas, build businesses and create solutions across sectors including healthcare, technology, education, finance, manufacturing, tourism and social work.
Kunal Kapoor Highlights the Importance of Taking Risks
Speaking during a conversation with Akanksha Sharma, Co-founder and CEO of CITTA Beauty, Kunal Kapoor discussed entrepreneurship, failure and the importance of communicating a strong vision.
Kapoor described entrepreneurship as closely connected with storytelling and said that failure can provide valuable lessons to people willing to experiment and learn. He also stressed that avoiding risks altogether can be a greater risk for entrepreneurs.
Dr Pankaj Sharma Emphasises the Power of Belief
Dr Pankaj Sharma, CMD of Pune Times Mirror, Civic Mirror and The Lexicon Group, also spoke about the importance of belief in transforming ideas into successful ventures.
Referring to Roger Bannister’s historic four-minute mile, Sharma explained how one individual’s achievement can change perceptions about what is possible and encourage others to attempt similar challenges.
Leaders Recognised Across Multiple Sectors
The awardees represented a wide range of industries and professional fields.
Among those recognised were Anish Nawathe and Avinash Nawathe for Best Business Advisory Firm, Dr Shailesh Patil for Excellence in Healthcare & Life Sciences, Ranjit Natu as Best Financial Services Entrepreneur and Sayalee Marathe as Best Women Entrepreneur in Design & Lifestyle.
Other notable awardees included Aarav Danani, Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Kaizad Shroff, Best Enterprise Technology Entrepreneur; Dr Pranav Mahadeokar, AI & Technology Excellence Award; and Anurag Goel, Young Entrepreneur in Real Estate.
The awards also recognised achievements in healthcare, education, artificial intelligence, legal services, hospitality, tourism, food and nutrition, green energy, manufacturing and social work.
Celebrating Ideas That Create Impact
The Aavishkar Leadership Awards were positioned as more than an awards ceremony, with the initiative aiming to recognise entrepreneurs, innovators, startups, MSMEs and established business leaders contributing to Maharashtra’s and India’s growth story.
The initiative by Pune Times Mirror and Civic Mirror highlights the growing importance of entrepreneurship that combines commercial success with innovation and measurable impact.
With 40 leaders recognised this year, the awards provided a platform to celebrate individuals who have moved beyond ideas and taken concrete steps to build businesses, develop new technologies, improve services and contribute to society.
The event ultimately underscored a central message for India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: an idea becomes transformative when courage, innovation and execution turn it into real-world impact.
