"RISE//DEL Is Poised For Greater Expansion, Strengthening Its Role As A Cornerstone For India’s Creative Economy"-Aayush Bansal

In an era where creative industries are merging like never before, RISE//DEL has emerged as a catalyst for innovation, bringing together entrepreneurs, musicians, and industry leaders on a common platform. Spearheaded by Aayush Bansal, a event curator known for his work on Zomaland and the Feeding India Concert, RISE//DEL is reshaping how creative minds connect, collaborate, and grow.

Bansal’s vision for RISE//DEL took shape during his tenure at Zomato, where he recognized the untapped potential of cross-industry interactions. “India is now at a point where entrepreneurs are becoming creators, and musicians are investing or building their own startups. They need more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and innovate together,” he explains. The conference, now two editions strong, has evolved into a premier space for fostering meaningful connections and sparking business opportunities.

Curating an impactful lineup of discussions and speakers is a rigorous process that begins five months in advance. “We start by selecting a list of curators and getting their inputs on the topics they would like to see at RISE. Once we align on the themes, we identify and reach out to speakers who can bring real value to those discussions,” Bansal shares. This meticulous approach ensures a dynamic mix of voices from different industries, making the conference an essential stop for professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Beyond the conversations on stage, RISE//DEL has proven its impact through real-world collaborations. Bansal recalls an attendee who met with the marketing head of a well-known audio brand at RISE and later collaborated on AI-driven projects. Similarly, artists like Vilen and Rahul Ram of Indian Ocean, who first met at the event, have since been seen jamming together—showcasing the organic networking opportunities the platform fosters.

However, establishing an interdisciplinary platform like RISE//DEL has come with its own set of challenges. “Curating such a diverse lineup with three different verticals is a challenge, especially aligning schedules. Additionally, since we are in the initial years, building awareness remains a work in progress,” Bansal notes. To combat this, the team has leveraged partnerships with Believe, TuneCore, All By Play, and Mashup Edu, using their networks to amplify the event’s reach.

With two successful editions under its belt, RISE//DEL is poised for greater expansion, strengthening its role as a cornerstone for India’s creative economy. “We’re hopeful that as awareness grows, more professionals will see the value in what we’re building,” Bansal affirms. As the conference continues to evolve, it cements its place as a must-attend event for changemakers across industries.