NEW DELHI — Celebrating the massive convergence of technology, digital creation, and domestic commerce, the 18th NCN Innovative Product Awards 2026 successfully concluded its high-profile summit at Hotel The Suryaa in New Friends Colony, New Delhi.

A major highlight of this year’s gala was the Influence Excellence Awards 2026, a segment powered by UnsaidBharat to honor the country’s leading digital influencers, lifestyle creators, and tech visionaries who are redefining India’s booming creator economy.

Praveen Khandelwal Champions Women in the Creator Economy

The event was graced by Chief Guest Shri Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Member of Parliament. Addressing a diverse audience of technology executives, startup founders, and digital influencers, Khandelwal delivered a powerful speech focusing heavily on the structural rise of female entrepreneurship across India’s digital landscapes.

“The landscape of Indian retail and brand management is shifting rapidly, and women digital entrepreneurs are at the absolute vanguard of this transformation,” Khandelwal stated during his keynote. “Through creative storytelling and digital commerce, female creators are not just building independent careers; they are scaling home-grown businesses from the grassroots up.”

Khandelwal emphasized that the democratization of digital tools has turned micro-influencing into a viable economic powerhouse, transforming individual content creators into enterprise leaders.

Linking Digital Influence to ‘Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026‘

Integrating local influence with national trade, Khandelwal utilized the NCN platform to spotlight the upcoming Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026—India’s largest multi-sectoral “Make in India” trade exposition anchored by CAIT.

He issued a direct call to action to the award-winning influencers on stage, urging them to align their digital reach with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Vocal for Local.

The upcoming trade mahotsav, scheduled to take place at Bharat Mandapam, will feature dedicated exhibition zones exclusively for women entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and young startup innovators. Khandelwal noted that tech-savvy creators will play a foundational role in bridging the gap between traditional Indian merchants and the global digital market.

A Star-Studded Night of Recognition

The 18th edition of the awards, curated by NCN Magazine, featured premium brand sponsorships from industry giants including Samsung, G&G, Dell, TP-Link, and D-Link.

The stage saw several prominent lifestyle and tech influencers receive the coveted Influence Excellence trophies and certificates alongside industry leaders. The event concluded with an interactive panel discussion outlining the future of AI-driven influencer marketing and retail integration in India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets.