HT Syndication
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], February 5: The inaugural version of Discover MarTech 2026, a premier conclave for India’s advertising know-how ecosystem, held in Pune on January 29, 2026 underscored the rising affect of India-built MarTech options and actively championed the ‘Made-in-India MarTech’ narrative. With business reviews projecting the Indian MarTech market to succeed in USD 100 billion by 2030-31, the audio system on the platform highlighted India’s growing function as a world hub for advertising know-how innovation.
Amit Tandon, Managing Partner, MavGen Media, mentioned, ‘The Discover MarTech 2026 Pune version celebrated homegrown excellence, spotlighted regional advertising management from Maharashtra, and moved the dialog away from buzzwords towards actual, measurable enterprise influence. Designed as a long-term initiative, Discover MarTech goals to recognise and amplify sensible, business-led innovation rising throughout Bharat. We will quickly be taking Discover Martech to Ahmedabad, Indore, Mumbai and different cities.’
Talari Anand Mahesh, Managing Partner, MavGen Media, added, ‘We selected to launch the Discover MarTech collection from Pune due to the standard and depth of MarTech work rising from the area, regardless of the absence of a devoted knowledge-sharing platform. The sturdy response to the Discover MarTech 2026 Pune version reinforces our perception that India’s MarTech journey extends far past a number of metros. Our imaginative and prescient is to contribute meaningfully to the ecosystem via studying, collaboration, and recognition. We sit up for partnering with manufacturers and businesses throughout the nation as we construct this motion collectively.’
Abrar Chunawala, Executive Director – Technology, Vision, and Innovation, Onextel, mentioned, ‘Discover MarTech 2026 introduced collectively the right combination of selling, know-how, and enterprise transformation at a important second for the business. At Onextel, we consider related buyer experiences kind the muse of contemporary model success. Integrated, compliance-first communication platforms play a vital function in enabling smarter, extra human-centric advertising and that’s the path by which MarTech should proceed to evolve.’
The first panel dialogue of the day, ‘The New Marketing Function: Human + AI Capabilities’, was moderated by Hemal Bhuptani (Vector Consulting Group) and featured Ranjan Dutt (Russell Investments), Dr. Anuja Anil Pradhan (Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication), and Akhil Duggal (Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals). The panel explored how AI is quickly reshaping advertising features whereas reinforcing the enduring significance of human judgment, management, and decision-making.
Sharing his perspective, Ranjan Dutt mentioned, ‘What stood out for me was how rapidly AI adoption has accelerated–and but how central individuals, judgment, and management stay within the office. Technology offers you velocity, however groups offer you path. Without path, velocity solely will get you misplaced quicker.’
The second panel, ‘Customer Acquisition: Winning Customers with AI’, was moderated by Ajay Dusane and featured Kapil Khalgaonkar (Clodura.ai), Nishant Arora (Netcore), and Amol Ghadge (Pfizer). The dialogue centered on the shift from spray-and-pray techniques to precision-led acquisition powered by intent knowledge and predictive alerts. Panelists examined how AI is decreasing wasted media spend via real-time optimisation, reshaping multi-touch attribution, and serving to manufacturers determine unviable buyer segments early within the acquisition journey.
Summarising the dialogue, Ajay Dusane noticed, ‘Technology can allow options, however readability of pondering determines whether or not they really work. One factor turned very clear that AI is not about buying extra clients. It’s about buying the precise clients predictably, profitably, and repeatedly.’
He additional added, ‘AI would not repair damaged acquisition methods. It exposes them quicker.’
The third dialogue, ‘Made in India MarTech: Challenges and Opportunities’, was moderated by Arijit Bhattacharyya of DigitalInfocom and featured Dr. Sapptarishi Ghosh (Symbiosis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation) and Dr. Vinod Shastri (MIT-World Peace University). The panel examined the realities of constructing globally related MarTech options from India and the structural challenges confronted by B2B startups.
Responding to a query on why India has comparatively few B2B MarTech unicorns, Dr. Vinod Shastri remarked, ‘Why will we even aspire to be a unicorn–a legendary animal? Why not aspire to be a canine as a substitute?’ Elaborating additional, he added, ‘Like a pet, a sniffer canine, or a remedy canine, startups may be of immense worth to somebody. In our pursuit of turning into unicorns, we frequently attempt to be the whole lot to everybody. Real worth is created by being indispensable to somebody.’
The fourth panel, ‘Brand Engagement in an AI-Driven World’, was moderated by Kalyan Challapalli (WolfzHowl) and featured Rohan Kamat (Adobe), Siddharth Dhabade (Lemma), and Preetesh Jain (Zerply.ai). The dialogue highlighted a shared conviction that AI is turning into foundational to how manufacturers construct relevance, loyalty, and belief not via scale alone, however via intent-driven, human-centred engagement.
Reflecting on the dialog, Preetesh Jain mentioned, ‘AI-driven engagement works solely when it’s human-centred, not automation-first. Scale is highly effective, however context and intent are what really drive loyalty. The future belongs to manufacturers that deal with AI as a strategic companion in expertise design, not merely as a productiveness layer.’
The occasion additionally featured the Discover MarTech Awards 2026, celebrating manufacturers and groups that demonstrated measurable enterprise influence via the efficient use of selling know-how. The winners had been chosen by an esteemed jury comprising Gaurav Sinha of Audi India, Jitendra Mahendra from Shoppers Stop, and Hemal Bhuptani of Vector Consulting Group. The awards centered on substance over showmanship, recognising groups that demonstrated clear strategic pondering, sturdy execution, and outcomes that had been tangible and measurable.
Winners on the Discover MarTech Awards 2026 included:
– Best Use of Marketing Technology:Gold – Bajaj General InsuranceSilver – YES BankBronze – Crocs India
– Best Omnichannel Strategy:Gold – Nippon India Mutual FundSilver – FabindiaBronze – Navia
– Content Marketing Mastery:Gold – MyntraSilver – Hero MotoCorpBronze – Coolberg
– Lead Generation & Nurturing Champion:Gold – Zurich Kotak General InsuranceSilver – Shriram FinanceBronze – Bajaj Finserv and Axis Max Life Insurance
– Best Customer Data Platform:Gold – AdobeSilver – NetcoreBronze – Clodura.ai
– Most Innovative Martech Solution:Gold – NetcoreSilver – AdobeBronze – Clodura.ai
– Best CRM Solution:Gold – Clodura.aiSilver – Netcore
– Emerging Martech Solution:Gold – Zerply.aiSilver – MoneyDrip.ai
The 2026 version was supported by Onextel Limited as Title Sponsor, with Wolf Odysssey, Inbox Media Pvt. Ltd., Xccess Defenders, and STAIRS Talent Hub becoming a member of as Associate Sponsors reflecting the convergence of communications know-how, safety, and inclusive digital platforms shaping the way forward for advertising.
With sturdy participation from business leaders, know-how suppliers, and practitioners, Discover MarTech 2026 efficiently created a collaborative discussion board for studying, change, and recognition, additional cementing its place as a key platform for India’s evolving MarTech neighborhood.
About MavGen Media
MavGen Media is a partnership agency held between Mavcomm Group, one in every of India’s main Integrated Communications companies with twenty years of expertise, and Genuus, an award-winning international Marketing Services firm. The Mavcomm-Genuus mix is positioned on the intersection of creativity, communications, experiences and know-how.
MavGen is targeted on creating high-impact platforms for advertising, know-how, and enterprise leaders, enabling knowledge-sharing, neighborhood constructing, and recognition of excellence throughout rising enterprise domains.
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