PUNE: In a significant celebration of grassroots entrepreneurship and wealth creation, the UDYAMI Awards 2026, led by entrepreneur mentor and import-export expert Dr. Omkaar Hari Maali, felicitated 350 entrepreneurs from across Maharashtra at Buntara Bhavan, Baner, Pune, on Thursday.
The large-scale awards ceremony recognised entrepreneurs who have built sustainable and revenue-generating businesses, reflecting the growing economic influence of regional entrepreneurs in India’s business landscape.
Awards were presented across multiple achievement categories, including Hall of Fame, Udyami Lakhpati, Udyami Dashlakhpati, Udyami Crorepati, Udyami Warrior, and Udyami Game Changer. Dr Omkaar Hari Maali and Mrs Aakankssha Omkaar Maali presented the Awards.
A major highlight of the evening was the Crorepati Felicitation Ceremony, celebrating entrepreneurs who have successfully crossed significant revenue benchmarks, symbolising the emergence of a new generation of Marathi wealth creators.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Omkaar Hari Maali emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship as a vehicle for economic empowerment and employment generation.
“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. I am so proud of all the entrepreneurs who have built businesses ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹50 crore in turnover — many of them, starting with zero prior experience,” he said.
Adding industry perspective to the event, Mr. Hanmantrao Gaikwad, Chairman and Managing Director of BVG Group, 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. The platform further unveiled Maharashtra Connect, an initiative designed to enable collaboration, mentorship, and market access for emerging business owners.
Dr Omkaar Hari Maali also launched his upcoming book Marathi te Millionaire, featuring 51 entrepreneurial success stories, in the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Hanmantrao Gaikwad, his parents, and senior leaders of Udyami Maharashtra, including co-founder Mrs. Aakankssha Omkaar Maali, CEO Mrs. Dolly Ritesh Dave, and CTO Mr. Shivam Thakur.
The event was also marked by another important announcement — the unveiling of a new movie banner that highlights the movement’s expanding focus on education, inspiration, and storytelling within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Building an Entrepreneurial Movement
Dr. Omkaar Hari Maali founded Udyami Maharashtra in 2020, a movement focused on empowering Marathi entrepreneurs in the import-export sector. Since then, the initiative has trained over 10,000 youth, enabling many to establish businesses across Maharashtra and international markets, including Dubai, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.
Beyond training, the movement supports entrepreneurs in setting up export businesses with mentorship and operational guidance, while also conducting vocational programs for women and export training for manufacturing units across the state. Its initiatives have strengthened market access for farmers and small businesses, facilitated exports generating significant economic value, and led to the establishment of India’s first import-export cooperative society.
Guided by the inclusive principle of “To Feed All,” inspired by the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr. Maali continues to promote entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic self-reliance across Maharashtra.
The UDYAMI Awards have emerged as a prominent platform recognising business achievement within Maharashtra’s regional entrepreneurial ecosystem while encouraging first-generation entrepreneurs to scale sustainable enterprises.
In Dr. Omkaar Hari Maali’s words, “Our identity is not defined by words, but by the success of the entrepreneurs we have built!”