The International Confluence on Startups and Innovation is a flagship annual conference organized by the Centre for Research on Startups and Risk Financing (CREST) at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Established in 2021 under the Institute of Eminence initiative, CREST has emerged as a leading research center in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, and risk capital.

This conference serves as a premier platform for global scholars, industry experts, investors, and policymakers to come together and exchange cutting-edge ideas, present impactful research, and engage in thought-provoking discussions on emerging trends in the startup ecosystem. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and real-world relevance, Confluence encourages meaningful dialogue between theory and practice.

Driven by the distinguished faculty of the Department of Management Studies (DoMS), the event fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and facilitates the development of actionable insights that support entrepreneurial growth and policy innovation. Participants benefit from high-quality keynote sessions, panel discussions, paper presentations, and networking opportunities with leading voices from academia, industry, and government.By hosting the International Confluence, CREST reaffirms its commitment to promoting research excellence, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and strengthening the global startup and innovation community.