How Infra.Market at Startup Mahakumbh Supports the Bharat Mission? Hear From The Founder

As India’s most anticipated startup confluence, Startup Mahakumbh 2025, kicks off tomorrow, the energy in the entrepreneurial ecosystem is palpable. From visionary founders to investors and policymakers, the event promises to be a melting pot of ideas, collaborations, and innovation with the central theme – “Unfolding the Bharat Story.” Among the key players stepping into this arena is Infra.Market, a pioneering force in India’s construction-tech space.

In an exclusive interaction with TICE, Aaditya Sharda, Co-founder of Infra.Market, delves into the startup’s motivations for participating in Startup Mahakumbh, the impact they aim to create in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and their vision for empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Known for transforming the infrastructure and building materials industry, Infra.Market brings more than just scale to the table – it brings a blueprint for building sustainable, impact-driven businesses rooted in India’s growth story.

Here’s a deep dive into Aaditya’s perspective on innovation, collaboration, and why building for Bharat is not just a narrative, but a mission.

Infra.Market at Startup Mahakumbh

Infra.Market has been a game-changer in India's construction-tech space. What motivated you to participate in Startup Mahakumbh 2025, and what are your key expectations from this platform?

Startup Mahakumbh is a mark of intent for where India's innovation story is headed. At Infra.Market, we have always believed in building from the ground up, literally and figuratively. Our journey from a startup to a company contributing to national-scale infrastructure mirrors the very ambition that this event promotes. Participating in a platform that brings together the full spectrum of India's startup ecosystem felt like a natural extension of our journey. We are here to connect with founders who are solving real-world problems, especially in industrial and construction tech, supply chains, and manufacturing.

We look forward to having meaningful conversations that lead to long-term collaborations. And for us, this means meeting others focussed on building revolutions to shape India's future. We are equally excited to contribute insights on how to build for scale while staying operationally efficient, something many early-stage founders are navigating right now.

The theme ‘Unfolding the Bharat Story’ highlights India’s startup potential beyond metro cities. How do you see Infra.Market contributing to this vision, especially in empowering Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets?

Our business was born with Bharat in mind. From day one, we have worked to digitize and democratize access to construction materials across India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where the next wave of infrastructure growth is happening. These markets are where infrastructure goes beyond modernization, enabling livelihoods, jobs, and long-term local development. Our platform allows smaller contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers to access better pricing, quality, and reach. We have dealers in Tier 2 and below cities who help us gain entry into smaller projects. Cross-selling and upselling with our complete product range enables higher ROI for the dealer and a bigger wallet share for the organization.

That said, when we talk about 'Unfolding the Bharat Story,' we see ourselves as enablers of that transformation. By building tech that works even in low-infrastructure regions and supporting local entrepreneurs with data-driven procurement systems, we strive to unlock value where it has historically been overlooked.

SMK brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. How do you plan to engage with the startup ecosystem at the event, and what kind of collaborations are you looking forward to?

"We view this as a two-way street. While we bring sectoral expertise, operational scale, and a unique business model that is disrupting the building materials industry, we are equally eager to learn from young teams building for the future. We are interested in startups innovating in construction automation, deep tech for infrastructure, logistics optimization, and manufacturing technology. We hope to find complementary strengths where our distribution network or domain expertise can give a startup the momentum it needs. We also aim to identify entrepreneurs looking for dealerships and to partner with new-age startups. Whether investing, co-creating, or mentoring, we are here to explore synergies beyond the event.

India’s infrastructure landscape is evolving rapidly. What insights or expertise will Infra.Market be sharing at SMK to help startups scale and navigate this sector?

"The infrastructure sector is complex and requires deep operational understanding, trust-based networks, and the ability to scale responsibly. It comes down to seamless integration with traditional ecosystems, where the learning curve is steep and resistance to change is real. At SMK, we aim to share what Infra.Market has learned in bridging the gap between technology and on-ground execution. From supply chain digitization to vendor aggregation and last-mile delivery for B2B infra projects, our experience could provide practical insights for startups looking to enter or scale in this space.

Funding and mentorship play a key role in startup growth. Will Infra.Market be actively supporting or mentoring emerging startups at SMK? If so, in what capacity?

Yes, mentorship and ecosystem-building are both close to our hearts. Infra.Market is always open to supporting high-potential startups through the right avenues. We approach mentorship as we approach our growth: structured, operationally grounded, and outcome-focused. At SMK, we will look to identify startups building relevant tech or models that can integrate into our ecosystem or add value to the broader infra and manufacturing landscape. We are also open to exploring how shared infrastructure or supply chain capabilities can be made accessible to startups that may not have scale but have strong potential.

With the push for Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, what role do you see Infra.Market playing in strengthening the country’s supply chain and manufacturing ecosystem?

We see ourselves as a strong pillar in the construction and infrastructure industry. Make in India is an ambitious vision that requires coordination across suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics networks, and we are building both the manufacturing capability and the technology to support that at scale.

To reduce fragmentation and delays, we operate 250+ fully owned manufacturing plants, with 65% of our business coming from our own brands. Strategic moves, such as acquiring RDC Concrete and taking a controlling stake in a listed company like Shalimar Paints, in addition to launching our private label IVAS, which has become a 1,000 Cr brand in just two years of operations, have helped strengthen our presence in the branded building materials category.

Together, these efforts not only enable Infra.Market’s growth but also create pathways for startups, regional manufacturers, and emerging brands to integrate into a more robust and future-ready value chain. We will continue to scale our impact as India builds for the world, with the conviction that empowering the broader ecosystem is key to realizing the full potential of Make in India.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs exhibiting at Startup Mahakumbh who aspire to build impactful businesses like Infra.Market?

Start small, but think about building a sustainable business. It’s easy to chase scale, but the real impact comes from consistently solving complex operational challenges. Don’t underestimate the power of being a profitable venture, even in the bootstrapped stage, especially in sectors like infrastructure and manufacturing, which are purely B2B and offer no luxury of building a non-profitable, non-sustainable business. Lastly, stay close to the customer. Technology can be a great enabler, but it only works when deeply embedded in real-world use cases.

Lastly, what excites you the most about Startup Mahakumbh 2025, and what message would you like to share with India’s aspiring founders?

What excites me most is the sheer diversity of ideas and energy. It is a reminder that India's startup story isn't limited to metros or tech; it is everywhere and in everything. My message to aspiring founders: ‘THIS IS YOUR TIME!’. Build for Bharat, build with intent, and don't be afraid to challenge legacy thinking. If you stay grounded in execution and focused on impact, the opportunities are limitless. What SMK represents is a shift from startups being disruptors to being nation-builders. And that is a shift worth being a part of.