Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr. Kanwal Rekhi inaugurated KREST – Kanwal Rekhi Rural Entrepreneurship and Startup Center
Nizamabad,(Telangana) [India], January 8: In a significant step towards building a robust startup ecosystem for rural and semi-urban India, renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr. Kanwal Rekhi inaugurated KREST – Kanwal Rekhi Rural Entrepreneurship and Startup Center in Nizamabad. KREST is a startup vertical under Kakatiya Sandbox, a non profit organization working for the economic transformation of North Telangana co-founded by Raju Reddy (founder of Sierra Atlantic) and Phanindra Sama (founder of redBus).
- 10,000+ student entrepreneurs by 2030, scaling to 2 lakh by 2047
- 500+ startups supported by 2030, growing to 10,000 by 2047, marking 100 years of India’s Independence
The inauguration marks the culmination of a vision first articulated nearly three years ago, when Mr. Rekhi committed to supporting the creation of a rural-focused incubation centre that would enable entrepreneurship from and for Bharat. Since then, sustained efforts by the KREST team and its ecosystem partners have translated that commitment into a fully realised institution dedicated to nurturing grassroots innovation and scalable startups.
Announced in 2022, KREST was envisioned as more than just a physical space. While the building was being conceptualised and constructed, far more emphasis was placed on laying the foundation of a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Over the last three years, KREST has begun creating meaningful on-ground impact through a range of focused initiatives, including YUVA, its student entrepreneurship program designed to nurture entrepreneurial thinking early; targeted funding support for founders building solutions for rural and semi-urban India; mentorship and exposure opportunities for first-time entrepreneurs; and Bridge2Bharat, a soft-landing program that enables startups to enter and scale across North Telangana.
The newly inaugurated KREST Incubation Centre is designed to enable innovation to move from idea to impact. The facility includes modern co-working spaces, a fully equipped Makers Lab, dedicated office spaces for startups, and expo and demonstration areas. Inspiration-led infrastructure elements, such as the Kanwal Rekhi Wall, trace Mr. Rekhi’s entrepreneurial journey and are intended to motivate and inspire young founders from the region.
On this occasion Mr. Kanwal Rekhi said, “It’s our hope that KREST can play a critical role in shaping India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially in rural India. If we can transform our IT sector overnight, why can’t we do the same in our farm sector? When we build platforms that enable talent from Tier-2 and Tier-3 India to access mentorship, markets and capital, entrepreneurship begins to take root where it matters most. Imagine if rural Indians could double their income and productivity using technology, how radically it would change the country. Unlocking this potential across Bharat is essential if India is to become one of the top economies by 2047.”
The inauguration was attended by leading ecosystem builders, including Raju Reddy and Phanindra Sama, Founders of Kakatiya Sandbox, among other prominent mentors, founders, and supporters from across the start-up ecosystem.
“India’s non-metro cities are emerging as powerful engines of growth, and KREST is built to serve this moment by building entrepreneurship where it matters most—closer to the communities and problems that need solving. Nizamabad has the talent, intent, and energy required to create globally relevant startups, and KREST provides the right ecosystem to unlock that potential. This initiative sets a powerful precedent for how regional innovation hubs can drive inclusive growth across Telangana and the country.” Said Mr. Raju Reddy, Founder, Kakatiya Sandbox.
Looking ahead, KREST is committed to scaling its programs and deepening its impact by enabling solutions for rural and semi-urban India. The center draws inspiration from proven models such as Deshpande Startups, Hubli, which has spent over a decade experimenting and learning in this space. Entrepreneurs such as Abhinav Asthana, Founder & CEO of Postman, have come forward to back KREST’s mission, with Abhinav extending a fund focused on supporting student entrepreneurs building hardware products, strengthening the pathway from ideas to execution.
KREST’s long-term goals are both ambitious and deeply intentional. By 2030, the Centre aims to nurture over 10,000 student entrepreneurs and support 500+ startups, laying a strong foundation for entrepreneurship in rural and semi-urban India. Looking further ahead, in alignment with the centenary of India’s Independence in 2047, KREST envisions scaling this impact to 2 lakh student entrepreneurs and 10,000 startups, creating a generational pipeline of founders building sustainable, Bharat-focused solutions with national and global relevance.
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