Franchise India 2025 Expo: Empowering Entrepreneurs, Enabling Bharat, Expanding Global Partnerships
The 21st edition of Franchise India Expo 2025 & Bharat Startup Summit 2025 organized by Franchise India concluded with resounding success, reaffirming its position as India’s largest and most impactful platform for franchise businesses, startups, investors, and global expansion partners. Held on 17th and 18th May 2025 at the iconic Yashobhoomi (IICC), New Delhi, the two-day mega event marked a stupendous moment in India’s entrepreneurship journey — especially for Bharat’s emerging cities and rural enterprises.
Forging Alliances:
Franchise India x DICCI MoU
In a landmark step toward inclusive economic growth, Franchise India Holdings Limited (FIHL) and the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote entrepreneurship and business ownership among SC-ST communities through franchising. The MoU was signed at the Bharat Startup Summit 2025, held at IICC Yashobhoomi organized by Franchise India in the esteemed presence of Padma Shri Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, DICCI, Ravi Kumar Narra, President, DICCI and Ashita Marya, CEO, Franchise India.
Franchise India x Vietnam Franchising & Licensing Network (VFLN):
To boost bilateral business ties, the Indian Small Business & Franchise Association (ISFA) and the Vietnam Franchising & Licensing Network (VFLN) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster franchise development and empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in both countries.
The MoU was signed by Gaurav Marya, Chairman of ISFA, and Mdm. Nguyen Phi Van, Chairwoman of VFLN, marking the beginning of a robust partnership aimed at unlocking new economic opportunities and encouraging cross-border business expansion between India and Vietnam.
Show Statistics:
Franchise India Expo saw a good quality visitor turnout where almost 73% of the visitors were potential franchisee and 11% franchisors. It also saw 350+ Participating Brands from across India and 10+ countries, 30,000+ Serious Business Buyers and Entrepreneurs from Tier I, II & III cities, 10,000+ HNIs & Investors exploring multi-unit and master franchise deals, 12 Curated Business Pavilions covering F&B, Retail, EdTech, EV, Healthcare, Fintech, Beauty, and more, 20+ Global Delegations including Vietnam, UAE, Australia, UK and others
Bharat Startup Summit 2025:
The Bharat Startup Summit started with a key note address by Mohamad Al Madani of Tagmoa. In his remarks he said, “Over the past two decades our two nations have cultivated a relationship rooted in trade, culture and mutual respect. The India and UAE comprehensive economic partnership agreement signed in 2022 has already generated over 85 billion dollars in bilateral trade with a goal reaching 100 billion dollars by year 2027”.
Key themes of the Bharat Startup Summit were Rise of micro and nano franchising, Growth of experience-driven retail formats, Acceleration of phygital (physical + digital) retail strategies, Success of localized franchise models tailored for Bharat, Shifting consumer preferences shaping retail and franchise innovation, Crafting a scalable and operationally efficient menu, Maximizing delivery potential through cloud kitchens and platform partnerships, Location! Location! Location!: Why location remains the key driver of success, Growing role of private equity and aggregators in scaling food ventures.
The summit also saw the unveiling of “Top 200 Franchise” magazine by industry stalwarts like Mukesh Gupta – Director, Strategy Consulting, Deloitte India, Anupam Bansal – Executive Director, Liberty Shoes Ltd, Rajesh Kapase – CEO, TRACKON COURIERS PRIVATE LIMITED, Lalit Agarwal – Founder & MD, V-Mart Retail Ltd, Ashita M. – CEO & Consulting Editor, Franchise India Holdings Limited India.
The Bharat Startup Summit offered an opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect with the finest & brightest minds from the industry to discover how to scale their business. Discussions at the expo focused on skill development programs, infrastructure development, and international collaborations to foster innovation, knowledge exchange, and market access.
Awards of Glitter, Glamour & Growth:
- One of India’s leading retailers of fitness supplements and nutritional products, Muscle & Strength India won the prestigious award for Upcoming Franchisor of the Year – Health & Fitness Category
- Emerging Franchisor of the Year Award (International Education) was presented to Modern Montessori International (MMI India)
- Franchise Growth Award was presented to Royaloak
- Business Leadership Award to TANISHQ
- Excellence in Customer Service to Page 3
- Franchise Startup of the Year to the EleFant
- Emerging Franchisor Award (International Retail) to Chocolate bash
- Emerging Franchisor of the Year (Jewellery) to Sangeeta Boochra
- Emerging Franchisor of the Year (Skilling) to i2Global Virtual Learning
- Emerging Franchisor of the Year (Edutech) to Viswam Edutech
Franchise Awards put standards, ethics and best practice at the top of their agenda. Through positive recognition of those that lead the way, the franchise awards are seen as the industry’s top accolades.
Franchise India Expo 2025 has set the stage for a new wave of growth, partnerships, and entrepreneurship. With a clear focus on building from Bharat, and scaling with global partners, this year’s edition has laid the foundation for an explosive growth in franchising.