Mangirish Salelkar has been elected as the President of the Goa Technology Association (GTA) for a third time and speaks on plans for his tenure
You were the Founder President of GTA. What made you come back?
Returning as President was never about a title – it was about responsibility. I co-founded GTA with a vision to unite and empower Goa’s tech ecosystem. After years of progress and pandemic setbacks, we needed renewed leadership, agility, and clarity. I am back not to repeat the past, but to reimagine the future – to drive our GTA 5.0 agenda, rebuild momentum, and make Goa an innovation ready, refine collaborations, industry-inclusive, and globally
connected IT destination.
What are the strides that GTA has taken since its inception?
From being a WhatsApp group of entrepreneurs to becoming Goa’s official IT voice, GTA has achieved significant milestones. We have influenced state IT policies, helped startups navigate government schemes, conducted internship and job fairs, built academia-industry bridges, and enabled forums for tech professionals to learn and collaborate. Today, GTA is recognised not just by the government of Goa, but also by national bodies like
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT), ASSOCHAM, and industry stakeholders across India.
GTA has been working closely with the government over the years. What state initiatives are you partnering, this time?
We are proud collaborators in the Goa AI Mission 2027, supporting the government’s push to integrate AI into
education, governance, and enterprise. We are also contributing to Skilling Goa, a digital skilling roadmap
aligned with industry needs, and assisting in Startup Promotion Schemes through mentorship and outreach. Our collaboration with the Office of the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Skilling & Entrepreneurship
reflects our belief that public private partnerships are key to sustainable technology ecosystem growth.
What challenges in Goa’s IT ecosystem does GTA, under your leadership, aim to address?
We are actively addressing talent retention, slow startup scale-up, industry visibility, and the lack of advanced skilling opportunities. Under GTA 5.0, our focus is on:
• Empowering local talent to find global opportunities while staying in Goa
• Promoting product-led startups and deep-tech ventures besides IT services
• Enabling academia to keep pace with industry innovation
• Building a stronger support system for scaling existing IT companies with proven records.
We are here to be the catalyst; not just a voice, for the ecosystem’s evolution.
The IT landscape in India has leapfrogged manifold, especially in AI. What is the GTA focus on AI?
We have placed AI at the heart of GTA 5.0. Through our curated knowledge sharing series and industry academia interactions, we are bringing subject matter experts, technocrats, and business thought leaders together to bridge the AI-awareness gap across sectors like healthcare, education, governance, and tourism. We are working with academia to introduce AI education early, and with industry to foster ethical, job-creating, and inclusive AI adoption in Goa.
What are the legacy projects of your predecessor that you would like to take forward?
Our past leadership launched impactful initiatives like the GTA Campus Bytes (Industry Academia Connect),
Tech Together(Member Engagement) and Women’s Wing (Women in Tech forum). We are taking those forward with renewed scale and strategy. Our intent is not to start afresh but to build on strong foundations, improve where needed, and make every initiative measurable, inclusive, and aligned with the ecosystem’s future.
Who is your team for this tenure?
This year’s team is a blend of continuity and change. We have brought in fresh blood, young leaders with fire in their belly, alongside experienced professionals who understand the journey so far. It’s a diverse, execution-ready team, aligned with our vision of making Goa a serious player in tech. Our tech leaders leading GTA this term are Milind Prabhu, Rohan Warty, Yashvit Naik, Chinmay Sanjiv Kamat, Amol Bhandarkar, Vikram Pai Raikar, and Rohir Naik. Our working culture is one of action, ownership, and collaboration, no politics, no hierarchy; just purpose.
How do you envision the role of Goa in India’s larger digital and innovation map?
Goa can’t and shouldn’t try to be the next Bengaluru. Instead, Goa should position itself as India’s innovation hub − a safe, small, connected state where tech solutions in AI, health, tourism, and governance can be piloted ethically and scaled nationally. GTA is working to make Goa the first state in India where tech is both impactful and inclusive, rooted in real-world outcomes, not just numbers. People should know Goa IT Inc as ‘Global Tech Tribe with a Susegaad Vibe.
What are GTA’s plans to support startups and first-time entrepreneurs in Goa?
We have outlined a clear support framework:
• Access to mentors and GTA resources
• Monthly ecosystem meetups for visibility and collaboration
• Exposure through trade expos, conferences and national platforms.
Most importantly, we are enabling early market access through B2B connections, government pilots, and showcasing them at forums like Indiasoft, GITEX, and national and international expos.
GTA is 8 years old now. How do you plan to evolve it for the next 8 years?
Our GTA 5.0 roadmap outlines this clearly:
• AI-first thinking, not just AI-awareness
• Global GTA platform for diaspora collaboration and investor connect
• Export acceleration for Goan IT products and services
• Inclusive leadership through forums for youth, women, and Tier-2 talent.
• Sustainability and ethics in tech as a core value.
We want to institutionalize GTA as not just a body, but as a movement that represents Goa’s tech ambition for the next decade.
How is GTA engaging with academic institutions to shape future tech talent?
We have signed MoUs and initiated structured dialogues with colleges across Goa. This includes guest lectures, hackathons, real-world projects, and internships in member companies. We are proposing an Industry-Academia Innovation Council, reigniting GTA student’s wing and co-designing micro skilling programs in AI, DevOps, UI/UX, and cybersecurity to bridge the employability gap. Our longterm vision includes having a full time Bachelor course
introduced in Goa specialised in future technology, GTA certified finishing schools with industry partners.
What kind of global partnerships or collaborations is GTA aiming to establish?
In the near future, we are aiming to create the GTA Global Chapter; that is connecting Goan origin professionals and
Indian diaspora across USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia and Singapore. Our ambition is to create global co-creation and co-investment opportunities, and to host Goa’s Biggest Tech Connect event, a first-of-its kind international tech conclave in the state.
What’s your message to young tech professionals and students in Goa?
Dream big but build where you belong. Goa needs your ideas, your energy, and your boldness. Don’t wait for the perfect job or perfect time. Start small, fail fast, and learn faster. GTA is here to support you, but this is your moment. Goa can be more than just a place to live; it can be a place to lead
