Courage. Vision. Conviction.

Overview

ET Edge 40 Under 40 celebrates India’s bold under-40 visionaries who drive innovation and purposeful leadership. This year, we spotlight South India — home to over 35% of India’s unicorns and a leader in R&D and global collaboration. The 2025 South Edition honours the trailblazers shaping the future of business and industry.

About the Summit

The South Edition Summit is an exclusive, high impact gathering of entrepreneurs, CXOs, family business leaders, policymakers, technologists, investors, and changemakers. It will feature thought-provoking keynotes, deep-dive panels, and fireside conversations with the region’s brightest minds.

This celebration of excellence will spotlight inspiring success stories, explore drivers of sustainable growth, and reflect the resilience and ambition shaping India’s southern innovation corridor.

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unicorns in Southern India have a combined valuation exceeding $100 billion.

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of India’s unicorns are based in South India.

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of India’s top unicorns originate from the southern region.

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of India’s total R&D spending is contributed by South India.

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startups are registered in South India, covering sectors like IT, biotech, fintech, healthcare, clean energy, and manufacturing.

Who Should Attend ?

This summit is tailored for South India’s most ambitious and influential voices, including:

Young Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders

CXOs & Emerging Business Leaders (under 40)

Tech Innovators & Industry Disruptors

Venture Capitalists & Angel Investors

Policy Thinkers & Economic Strategists

Sustainability Champions & Social Impact Leaders

AI & Digital Transformation Experts

Creative Visionaries & Cultural Influencers

To be featured in the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – South Edition, nominees will be evaluated across a rigorous set of parameters:

Age

Professional Achievement

Sustained performance over time, not just one-time success
Achievements under adversity or challenging market conditions
Leadership scope: size of team, business impact, scale
External recognition: awards, accreditations, media features
Quantifiable outcomes: growth metrics, market expansion, cost efficiencies
Quality of execution and stakeholder feedback
Contribution beyond role: mentoring, ecosystem building

Leadership

Talent development and mentorship
Crisis leadership and change management
Cross-functional collaboration and visionary thinking
Emotional intelligence, inclusivity, and communication effectiveness
Strategic foresight and adaptability

Innovation, Impact & Ethics

Scalable innovation and measurable impact
Future-readiness and sustainability focus
Ethical decision-making and transparency
Industry reputation and peer recognition
Long-term consistency in values-driven leadership

In collaboration with our Research Partner, Coherent Market Research, ET Edge undertakes a comprehensive evaluation process:

Extensive research across industries and sectors in South India
Assessment across defined parameters including leadership, innovation, impact, and future potential
Final selection of 40 distinguished leaders under 40 years of age
Felicitation at the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – South Edition Summit 2025
Exclusive feature in the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – South Coffee Table Book 2025