Automation Expo North 2026

Startup Zone

Three days in front of the people who actually sign off on automation spend.
Plant heads, production engineers, system integrators, distributors and investors walk this floor looking for what's next — and in the Startup Zone they're looking for it from companies your size.

You get a dedicated space on the main automation floor at a rate built for a company that doesn't have a marketing budget yet.

DATES
9–11 December 2026
VENUE
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
See what's on show Apply for a startup kiosk
A young startup team at their stand on the Automation Expo floor
Why exhibit here

Put Your Startup in Front of the Right Industry Audience

The Startup Zone gives eligible early-stage companies a dedicated space for three days: somewhere to run a live demo, hand over a card and get a straight answer from someone who runs a plant for a living.

You'll meet manufacturers, plant professionals, system integrators, investors, distributors and technology partners — people who came to Pragati Maidan specifically to find solutions they haven't seen before.

Up to 2 years old

Startup kiosk

A dedicated kiosk in the Startup Zone at the entry-level startup rate.

Rate: ₹30,000 + GST

Up 5 years old

Startup stall

A full stall in the zone, still at startup pricing, with room to bring a machine.

Rate: ₹7,500 / sq.m. + GST
What's on show

Six things this floor is shopping for

The Startup Zone sits inside the main automation hall, not off to one side. Visitors reach it while they're still looking. These are the six areas they come looking for — and the question they will actually walk up to your kiosk and ask.

Industrial AI & analytics

Defect classification, yield and quality prediction, process optimisation — trained on real plant data, not a demo set.

They'll ask“What accuracy do you hold on our parts, and how long to train on our line?”

Robotics & cobots

Affordable arms, mobile robots, grippers and end-of-arm tooling built for high-mix, low-volume work.

They'll ask“What's the payback if we run this cell across two shifts?”

IIoT, edge & connectivity

Retrofit sensor kits and edge gateways that get data off twenty-year-old machines without replacing them.

They'll ask“Will it read our existing PLC without us rewiring the panel?”

Machine vision & inspection

Camera-based inspection, dimensional gauging and code reading that goes onto a running line in days, not quarters.

They'll ask“Can you catch this defect?” — and they'll have the part in their pocket.

Factory software

Lightweight MES, maintenance, quality and OEE tools priced for plants that never bought enterprise software.

They'll ask“Who else our size is running this, and can we call them?”

Energy & sustainability

Energy monitoring, emissions tracking, compressed-air and heat recovery — the cost line every plant is now watching.

They'll ask“What did this save per month at the last site you installed?”

Come ready to answer those six questions

The startups that leave this floor with a pipeline are the ones who brought a working demo, a number they can defend and someone on the stand who can talk engineering. Slides alone don't survive three days at Pragati Maidan.

Apply for a startup kiosk
What you get out of it

More Than a Kiosk. A Platform to Grow Your Startup.

Connect With Industry Decision-Makers

Meet manufacturers, plant heads, production professionals and automation experts actively exploring new technologies and solutions.

Demonstrate Your Solution

Use your dedicated kiosk to present your product, technology or innovation and engage directly with visitors who can provide valuable business feedback.

Build Industry Connections

Connect with system integrators, distributors, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to explore potential collaborations and market opportunities.

Increase Your Industry Visibility

Put your startup in front of a focused industrial audience and build awareness for your brand, technology and capabilities within the automation ecosystem.

Startup Zone kiosk: 96.2 cm wide, 66.2 cm deep counter with a 241 cm branded back panel
The kiosk itself

96.2 cm of floor. Enough for a demo and a conversation.

A branded back panel carrying your company name, a lockable counter, power and lighting. It arrives built — you turn up with your product and plug in.

  • 241 cmBack panel height
  • 96.2 cmCounter width
  • 66.2 cmCounter depth
Apply for a startup kiosk
Who should apply

Is Your Startup a Fit?

The Startup Zone is for companies established within the last 5 years with an industrial product, technology or solution they can demonstrate. Kiosks are reserved for companies under 2 years old.

Talk to the team
Applications open

Put your product in front of the people who run the plants

9–11 December 2026 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Apply for a startup stall

Build · Show · Sell