MTW 2025 to position Mumbai as Asia’s AI sandbox: Naiyya Saggi

Mumbai Tech Week (MTW) 2025, Asia's largest AI-focused event, is set to take place from February 24 to March 1, 2025, in Mumbai. Organised by the Government of Maharashtra with the Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai (TEAM), the event aims to position Mumbai as a central hub for AI innovation and technological advancement. The week-long event features satellite workshops and hackathons from February 24 to 27, culminating in major conferences on February 28 and March 1 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC. MTW 2025 will feature a wide lineup of speakers including Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis; and Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, Jio Chairman Akash Ambani, and Meta India VP & Head Sandhya Devanathan, among others. Also, key figures in AI, including Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO at Scale AI, Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder at Sarvam AI, Niki Parmar, AI Researcher at Anthropic will also speak about India's AI potential.

In an exclusive interaction with Fortune India, Naiyya Saggi, Founder & CEO of Edition (edt.), and Co-founder of The Good Glamm Group and BabyChakra discusses the objectives and significance of MTW 2025. Saggi is also the official spokesperson for TEAM.

Q: What do you aim to achieve with Mumbai Tech Week (MTW), what makes it unique? 

This event is a crucial convening platform for AI and technology in India. It sets the stage for future-forward narratives, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and startups. The goal is to position Mumbai as Asia’s AI sandbox, where AI meets the real world. We want to attract attention from industry and policymakers, leading to key commitments from large corporations, startups, and the government toward AI’s progress in India.

What makes MTW different from other AI events globally is its diverse participation—from policymakers and industry leaders to startups and researchers—all making real-world AI commitments. 

Q: Are there any policy announcements expected at MTW? 

Yes, but some details will be disclosed at the event. The Maharashtra government is drafting an AI policy with commitments on subsidies, infrastructure funding, and data usage guidelines. Additionally, supportive ecosystem frameworks will be announced to accelerate AI research, entrepreneurship, and investment in the state.

Q: Mumbai is often seen as an industry and financial hub, whereas Bengaluru dominates the startup ecosystem. How is Mumbai repositioning itself?

Mumbai has a strong foundation in both mainstream industry and the startup ecosystem. Over 25,000 startups are registered here, making it a key centre for inception, scaling, and listing. Unlike Bengaluru, which is primarily focused on IT and IT-enabled services, Mumbai has a diverse industry base, spanning FinTech, BFSI, manufacturing, and digital commerce.

The city also has robust academic institutions like IIT Bombay, Wadhwani Institute for AI, and VJTI, alongside major corporate R&D hubs like Reliance’s Digital Park. This ecosystem enables a seamless transition from research to industry. 

Q: India has launched initiatives like the AI Mission. Can we expect Maharashtra-specific AI developments? 

Yes, the Maharashtra government could announce initiatives that will strengthen AI research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While I can't share specifics, these announcements will significantly impact AI development in the state. We are also unveiling a research report in partnership with a top consulting firm, which will serve as a benchmark for Mumbai’s AI ecosystem, covering infrastructure, talent, startup profitability, and upskilling initiatives.

Q: How does India compare in the global AI race, especially against the US and China? 

India needs a distinct approach. China committed $100 billion annually to AI, quantum computing, and biotech over a decade ago. Instead of replicating that, India should leverage its strengths in digital public infrastructure, collaboration, and cost-effective innovation. 

UPI is a great example. It started as an Indian initiative and is now being adopted in France for the Paris Olympics, despite Europe’s strict regulations. Similarly, India should focus on AI solutions that align with its strengths in scalable tech, talent, and cost efficiency. 

Q: What steps should India take to ensure its workforce is AI-ready? 

One key focus should be upgrading engineering curricula to include real-world AI applications. There’s a huge need for industry-academia collaboration — many Indian researchers leave for the US due to funding constraints. 

The private sector must play a role, just as leading corporations fund university research in the US. If we create public-private partnerships that support AI research in India, we can retain talent and produce globally competitive innovations. 

Q: Infrastructure is a key challenge. What are your thoughts on addressing this gap? 

Infrastructure isn’t just roads and bridges—it includes talent infrastructure (universities, IT parks, startup hubs) and digital infrastructure (data centres, cloud computing). Mumbai already hosts 50% of India’s data centres, and connectivity has improved significantly over the last decade. 

However, universities need more funding, and many graduates lack real-world skills. One solution is industry-driven training programs that integrate students into the workforce earlier, ensuring they develop relevant expertise.