NDTV Profit inaugurated its flagship investor forum, IGNITE, in Mumbai, bringing together India’s leading market strategists, corporate leaders, fintech founders, and investors. The event aimed to provide clarity and direction to market participants as they step into Samvat 2082 amid global economic turbulence and evolving domestic opportunities.

According to an NDTV Profit press release, the forum opened with veteran investor Ramesh Damani setting a candid tone, reflecting on how the investment landscape has transformed since 1989. He emphasized that while globalization once shaped financial strategies, nations now must increasingly chart their own paths. Despite global headwinds, Damani expressed confidence in India’s positioning and highlighted sunrise sectors like rare earth minerals, shipbuilding, and infrastructure development, while advising caution on gold’s long-term performance.

Manish Chokhani of Enam offered a nuanced perspective, supporting gold’s short-term resurgence as a hedge against inflation and monetary excess in the West, but reinforcing the need for patience and disciplined investing. Ashishkumar Chauhan, CEO of NSE, warned investors against excessive leverage and derivatives exposure, stressing that individual investors lack the protections companies enjoy during financial distress.

The forum also highlighted India’s dynamic startup ecosystem. Nilesh Shah of Kotak Mahindra AMC spoke on how startups are rapidly adopting new technologies, urging regulatory reforms to unlock further potential. Sundeep Sikka of Nippon Life AMC praised the resilience of SIP flows in mitigating emotional investing, while Ayush Mittal encouraged the use of AI as a research aid rather than a replacement for human judgement. Harshvardhan Roongta reinforced the role of insurance as an essential portfolio component.

Discussions also touched on consumption trends following GST reductions, with Mayank Shah of Parle Products noting that pricing benefits would soon reach smaller product packs. Market veteran Vijay Kedia described the current IPO market as “frothy,” reiterating his advice for disciplined, patient investing. Actor-entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi shared insights from his venture, Swarnim University, where start-up culture is integrated with academic programs to nurture India’s next generation of founders.

Rahul Kanwal, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of NDTV, said, “IGNITE is about bringing the market’s most trusted voices together. At a time when investors are flooded with noise, we want to create a space that offers clarity and reason. Our goal is to help people understand where real opportunities lie, and to make those conversations accessible to everyone who looks to NDTV Profit for guidance.”

With its successful debut, IGNITE establishes itself as a platform for thoughtful dialogue on investment choices and financial foresight. NDTV Profit aims to continue the forum throughout the year, offering insights and guidance to investors navigating uncertainty and seeking long-term opportunities in India’s evolving economic landscape.