Superstore with Siri & Stani Club makes debut at beachside startup festival

Mangaluru: A Locavest Superstore was launched at the IDFC First Bank Emerge-2025, startup and lifestyle festival being held at the Tannirbhavi Beach. The three-day startup lifestyle festival was inaugurated on Friday.
Vishwas US, regional director of the International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA) Bharat and founder of Section Infin-8 Foundation, said that the store is rooted in locavesting, which is investing in locally crafted products with global appeal. It envisions a future where households can access high-quality, cost-effective products made in their own communities, balancing local craftsmanship with the refinement of global brands, he said.
At the heart of Locavest Superstore is Siri Gramodyog home products of the SKDRDP, Dharmasthala, supported by Presto and Modern Kitchen, and implemented through an omnichannel model by Mangaluru-based startup Sthani.club. Siri, being a unique organisation, provides the much-needed backward and forward linkages for rural women and offers a wide variety of training for prospective and existing women entrepreneurs. Once trained at these centres, the entrepreneurs can sell the products under the Siri brand name or build their business on their own.
He said, "The initiative is designed to support startups aligned with sustainable development goals, offering products in food, hygiene, health, wellness, apparel, and home decor. Localising supply chains is crucial to combating climate change and promoting sustainability."
Emerge-2025, promoted by Section Infin-8 Foundation, serves as a platform for about 40 startups with stalls, in addition to another 30-40 startups present there for networking. The ideathon shortlisted 10 ideas from 200 entries, and about 20 investors also attended the festival, said Vishwas.
Interestingly, over 50% of participating startups are local. The festival also offers private consultancy for startups seeking guidance.
Vishwas said a major highlight is the work towards the launch of incubation centres in collaboration with eight colleges, ensuring each taluk gets an incubation centre. "Initially, these will be generic incubation centres, which will later evolve into sector-specific hubs that encourage cross-collaboration between institutions and govt bodies like the corporation and police, aligning with the central govt's vision. Four colleges in Tulunadu have already signed up for the initiative," he said, adding that events like Emerge-2025 are crucial in fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable business models, driving Mangaluru's startup ecosystem forward, which is now being referred to as the Silicon Beach of India.