Entrepreneurship Beyond 55 Gains Attention as WalkAbout Concludes Startup Accelerator in Mumbai

Deval Delivala, Founder and CEO, WalkAbout, and Manoj Mohan, Executive Director, WISE Tech, SPJIMR, discuss opportunities for experienced entrepreneurs as 100 participants complete a 12 week programme and Pune based YoToyz wins Demo Day.

Entrepreneurship Beyond 55 Gains Attention as WalkAbout Concludes Startup Accelerator in Mumbai
Mumbai, October 31, 2026: WalkAbout, a community for active agers in India, concluded its startup accelerator for entrepreneurs aged 55 and above with a Demo Day at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Andheri West, Mumbai.
The event marked the completion of a 12 week programme involving 100 entrepreneurs who received guidance on developing, organising and expanding their businesses.
Presented by WalkAbout as India’s first startup accelerator specifically for entrepreneurs over 55, the initiative focused on helping participants apply their professional and personal experience to business ownership.
Selected finalists presented their ventures to a jury of industry professionals and entrepreneurs, outlining their progress and plans for future growth.

100 Entrepreneurs Complete Business Development Programme
The accelerator combined online business sessions, physical workshops, peer learning and individual mentorship from WalkAbout Startup Advisors.
Participants worked on product development, pricing, brand positioning and business planning.
By the end of the programme, each participant had prepared a business plan intended to guide the next stage of their venture.
The finalists were selected based on their progress during the programme and their readiness to present their businesses.
Their ventures represented sectors including senior living, consumer products, apparel and accessories, education services, and arts and crafts.
The Demo Day provided an opportunity for founders to explain their business ideas, discuss the challenges they had addressed and receive feedback from experienced professionals.

oToyz Wins Demo Day Recognition
YoToyz, founded by Yogesh Kulkarni, 56, from Pune, was selected as the winning venture.
Kulkarni has more than 25 years of classroom experience and is developing fabric based learning materials for young children.
According to the venture, YoToyz is creating what it describes as India’s first fully fabric based early years curriculum.
Its products include washable learning kits designed to encourage sensory engagement while offering an alternative to plastic toys and screen based activities.
The kits are produced by women artisans in Pune, creating employment opportunities alongside the venture’s educational focus.
The jury selected YoToyz based on its business clarity, market understanding, creativity and the social impact incorporated into its operating model.
As part of the accelerator’s continuing support, YoToyz will receive funding linked to the achievement of specified business
milestones.
The venture will also receive further mentorship to assist with the implementation of its business plans.
The announcement did not disclose the funding amount or the individual milestones attached to the support.

Industry Jury Reviews Finalist Ventures
The Demo Day jury included professionals from business, entrepreneurship, publishing and academic innovation.
The members were:
Dr. Shweta Loonkar, Co Founder and Director, KS Publication Pathway LLP.
Puneet Kapoor, Partner, SVP India, formerly associated with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Citibank and American Express.
Vivek Bhatnagar, Business Leader and Entrepreneur.
Aiswarya Simon, Associate, WISE Tech, SPJIMR.
Deval Delivala, Founder and CEO, WalkAbout.
Ashwini Kapila, Co Founder and Chief Business Development Officer, WalkAbout.
The finalists discussed the development of their businesses and received feedback on their proposed growth strategies.

WalkAbout Highlights Business Opportunities After 55
Deval Delivala, Founder and CEO, WalkAbout, said the programme demonstrated how people with substantial professional experience could pursue entrepreneurship later in life.
“It was inspiring to see the WalkAbout Startup Accelerator cohort pitch their ventures, share the journeys behind their businesses and present their vision for growth.”
Delivala also highlighted the practical advantages that experienced individuals may bring to business development.
“Our members bring decades of skills, networks and resilience, and seeing them turn that experience into enterprise is a reminder that ambition has no age limit.”
According to Delivala, the programme was intended to support more than business formation.
The broader objective was to help participants develop sources of income, personal purpose and confidence through entrepreneurial activity.

SPJIMR Discusses the Value of Professional Experience
Manoj Mohan, Executive Director, WISE Tech, SPJIMR, discussed the contribution that experienced professionals can make as startup founders.
He noted that entrepreneurial success is frequently associated with younger founders, although business experience and established professional relationships can also be valuable.
“Startup success stories often celebrate young entrepreneurs, but Colonel Sanders of KFC reminds us that some of the most remarkable entrepreneurial journeys can unfold later in life.”
Mohan identified sectors such as financial technology and business services as areas where industry knowledge and customer relationships may offer advantages.

“In sectors such as FinTech and B2B, decades of industry experience, deep customer understanding and professional networks can be powerful competitive advantages.”
He said WISE Tech was pleased to support WalkAbout’s efforts to develop entrepreneurship among individuals aged 55 and above.
Support to Continue Through Entrepreneur Circle
WalkAbout plans to maintain its engagement with participants beyond the Demo Day.
Entrepreneurs who were not selected as finalists or did not receive sponsorship will remain eligible to participate in the WalkAbout Entrepreneur Circle.
The founder community will provide access to networking meetings, expert sessions and future accelerator cohorts.

The initiative is intended to help participants continue working on their businesses after completing the initial programme.
For YoToyz, the next stage will include mentorship and funding tied to business milestones.
For other participants, the Entrepreneur Circle will provide opportunities for further learning and professional connections.
The programme’s conclusion reflects WalkAbout’s focus on entrepreneurship among people aged 55 and above, with practical business development and continuing community support forming the central elements of its approach.

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