UDYAMI Awards 2026 honours 350 entrepreneurs in Pune; Dr Omkaar Hari Maali highlights rise of marathi business leaders

In a celebration of grassroots entrepreneurship and regional wealth creation, the UDYAMI Awards 2026 honoured 350 entrepreneurs from across Maharashtra at Buntara Bhavan in Baner, Pune, on Thursday.

Led by entrepreneur mentor and import-export expert Dr Omkaar Hari Maali, the awards recognised individuals who have built sustainable, revenue-generating businesses, reflecting the growing influence of regional entrepreneurs in India’s evolving business landscape.

The awards were presented across multiple categories, including Hall of Fame, Udyami Lakhpati, Udyami Dashlakhpati, Udyami Crorepati, Udyami Warrior and Udyami Game Changer. The honours were presented by Dr Omkaar Hari Maali and Mrs Aakankssha Omkaar Maali.

One of the key highlights of the evening was the Crorepati Felicitation Ceremony, recognising entrepreneurs who have crossed significant revenue milestones, signalling the emergence of a new generation of Marathi wealth creators.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Maali emphasised the growing role of entrepreneurship in economic empowerment and job creation.

“Entrepreneurship is no longer limited to metropolitan cities. Today, entrepreneurs from towns and districts across Maharashtra are building global businesses and contributing meaningfully to the nation’s economy. Many of these entrepreneurs have built businesses ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹50 crore in turnover, often starting with no prior experience,” he said.

Adding an industry perspective, Hanmantrao Gaikwad, chairman and managing director, attended as the special speaker and shared insights on enterprise growth and nation-building through entrepreneurship.

The event also marked several key announcements, including the launch of 24 chapters of the Federation of Marathi Entrepreneurs, aimed at building a structured statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem. Another initiative, Maharashtra Connect, was unveiled to enable collaboration, mentorship and market access for emerging entrepreneurs.

During the event, Dr Maali also announced his upcoming book, Marathi te Millionaire, which features 51 entrepreneurial success stories. The launch took place in the presence of Mr and Mrs Hanmantrao Gaikwad, Dr Maali’s parents, and senior leaders of Udyami Maharashtra, including co-founder Aakankssha Omkaar Maali, CEO Dolly Ritesh Dave and CTO Shivam Thakur.

Another announcement at the event was the unveiling of a new movie banner, signalling the movement’s growing focus on storytelling and education within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Building an entrepreneurial movement

Dr Omkaar Hari Maali founded Udyami Maharashtra in 2020 with the aim of empowering Marathi entrepreneurs, particularly in the import-export sector. Since its inception, the initiative has trained over 10,000 youth, enabling many to establish businesses across Maharashtra and international markets.

Beyond training programmes, the movement provides mentorship and operational guidance for entrepreneurs setting up export businesses. It also conducts vocational programmes for women and export training for manufacturing units across the state.

The initiative has helped improve market access for farmers and small businesses, facilitated exports generating economic value, and led to the creation of India’s first import-export cooperative society.

Guided by the principle of 'To Feed All,' inspired by the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Maali says the movement aims to promote entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic self-reliance across Maharashtra.

The UDYAMI Awards have emerged as a platform recognising business achievements within Maharashtra’s regional entrepreneurial ecosystem while encouraging first-generation entrepreneurs to build and scale sustainable enterprises.

Dr Maali summed up the vision of the movement, saying, “Our identity is not defined by words, but by the success of the entrepreneurs we have built.”

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