📍Location
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
The Heart of India Celebrating Its Most Innovative Startups
📅 Date
February 18, 2025 – A Day That Will Forever Be Etched in C9Lab’s History
🏆 Award
Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India
Big Impact Awards 2025
Recognizing Excellence, Innovation, and Impact
About The Big Impact Awards: Celebrating Excellence
The Big Impact Awards stand as a beacon of recognition for organizations that aren’t just doing business—they’re making a difference. This isn’t about participation trophies or participation certificates. This is about genuine impact, measurable innovation, and transformative excellence that reshapes industries and improves lives.
Established as a prestigious platform to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence across diverse industries, the Big Impact Awards have earned their reputation as one of the most coveted recognitions for emerging organizations in Central India. The awards don’t just acknowledge what companies have achieved—they validate the journey, honor the struggle, and celebrate the audacity to dream beyond conventional boundaries.
What makes the Big Impact Awards truly special is their rigorous selection process. This isn’t a popularity contest or a pay-to-play scheme. Winners are meticulously evaluated on multiple dimensions: innovation quotient, market impact, scalability potential, sustainability of business model, customer satisfaction, social contribution, and the overall difference they’re making in their respective sectors. The evaluation committee comprises industry veterans, successful entrepreneurs, investment professionals, and sector experts who understand what true excellence looks like.
The awards ceremony itself is a grand celebration—bringing together the region’s brightest innovators, most successful entrepreneurs, supportive ecosystem builders, influential policymakers, and visionary investors. It’s where the entrepreneurial community comes together not just to celebrate individual achievements but to collectively acknowledge that innovation is thriving in Central India, that world-class startups can emerge from anywhere, and that regional entrepreneurship deserves national—and global—recognition.
For participating startups, the Big Impact Awards represent validation from peers, recognition from leaders, and a platform that amplifies their message far beyond what their own marketing could achieve. It’s career-defining, brand-building, and confidence-boosting—all rolled into one magnificent evening.
In 2025, C9Lab was honored with the title of Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India—a recognition that validates everything we’ve worked toward, celebrates the journey we’ve undertaken, and marks a defining inflection point in our story. This wasn’t just an award; it was acknowledgment that our mission to democratize cybersecurity, our commitment to innovation, and our dedication to serving businesses of all sizes is making a real, measurable, meaningful difference.
The moment our name was announced, as we walked to the stage to receive this prestigious recognition, as we held that trophy representing countless hours of work, sleepless nights, difficult pivots, customer rejections, technical challenges overcome, and unwavering belief in our vision—that moment crystallized everything. We weren’t just receiving an award; we were having our journey validated by the very ecosystem we’re proud to be part of.
Award Presentation: An Unforgettable Moment
What made this recognition even more memorable and deeply inspiring was the extraordinary caliber of individuals who presented the award. These weren’t just ceremonial presenters reading from a script—these were accomplished leaders whose presence elevated the significance of the moment exponentially.
🎖️Mr. Rajendra Shukla
Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Receiving recognition from Mr. Rajendra Shukla, the Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, was profoundly meaningful. His presence signaled that the state government recognizes and values the innovation happening within its borders, that cybersecurity entrepreneurship matters to state leadership, and that Madhya Pradesh is committed to fostering an ecosystem where technology startups can thrive.
Mr. Shukla’s role extends far beyond ceremonial duties—he’s actively involved in shaping policies that affect startups, in creating infrastructure that enables entrepreneurship, and in positioning Madhya Pradesh as a destination for innovation and investment. His participation in the Big Impact Awards demonstrates the state’s commitment to recognizing and supporting homegrown innovation.
During the presentation, his words of encouragement resonated deeply with the entire C9Lab team. He spoke about the critical importance of cybersecurity in India’s digital transformation, acknowledged the courage it takes to build innovative companies, and expressed the state’s commitment to supporting startups like C9Lab as we grow and scale. His endorsement isn’t just personally gratifying—it opens doors to state-level support, visibility, and opportunities that can accelerate our growth trajectory.
For a regional startup, having the Deputy Chief Minister personally recognize your achievements is transformative. It signals credibility to potential customers, investors, and partners. It creates media opportunities and visibility. It demonstrates that we’re not just another startup—we’re a startup that state leadership believes in, supports, and is willing to publicly endorse. That validation is priceless.
⭐ Ms. Minissha Lamba
Renowned Actress and Public Figure
Ms. Minissha Lamba’s participation as an award presenter brought a different but equally valuable dimension to the recognition. As a renowned actress and influential public figure, her presence attracted significant media attention and public interest to the awards ceremony and, by extension, to the winners being recognized.
Celebrity involvement in entrepreneurship events serves an important purpose: it bridges the gap between mainstream awareness and startup ecosystem recognition. While tech and business communities understand the significance of startup achievements, broader public awareness often lags. When recognized public figures participate in celebrating startup success, they bring their audiences with them—creating visibility opportunities that pure business forums can’t match.
Ms. Lamba’s genuine interest in entrepreneurship and innovation was evident throughout the ceremony. She didn’t just present awards mechanically—she engaged with winners, asked thoughtful questions about their businesses, and expressed authentic admiration for the courage and creativity entrepreneurship requires. This authentic engagement made the recognition feel personal and meaningful rather than transactional.
From a brand-building perspective, having a well-known public figure associated with C9Lab’s recognition creates interesting opportunities. Media coverage of the event extends beyond business publications into mainstream news and entertainment media. Social media amplification reaches audiences who might never encounter cybersecurity startup news otherwise. This cross-pollination between entertainment and entrepreneurship worlds creates unexpected awareness and interest.
The combination of political leadership (Mr. Shukla) and cultural influence (Ms. Lamba) presenting the award created a powerful message: C9Lab’s recognition matters across multiple dimensions—economically, socially, and culturally. We’re not just a business success; we’re a point of regional pride that resonates across different audience segments.
The Moment Itself: Pure Magic
Standing on that stage, receiving the award from these distinguished presenters, in front of an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, ecosystem supporters, and media—the moment was surreal. All the challenges faced during C9Lab’s journey flashed through our minds. The early days when we were just an idea and a lot of conviction. The customer rejections that stung but taught us invaluable lessons. The technical obstacles that seemed insurmountable until we figured out solutions. The sleepless nights refining our product, perfecting our pitch, serving our customers. The moments of doubt when success seemed distant and the path forward unclear.
In that moment, holding that trophy, all of it made sense. Every challenge had prepared us. Every setback had strengthened us. Every small win had built toward this larger recognition. The trophy wasn’t just metal and engraving—it was validation that the journey, with all its struggles and sacrifices, was worth it. It was proof that what we’re building matters, that our mission resonates, that our innovation is recognized, and that our impact is real.
For the entire C9Lab team—those present at the ceremony and those watching remotely—this was a shared triumph. Everyone who contributed to C9Lab’s journey, everyone who believed in our vision, everyone who supported us during difficult times—this recognition belonged to all of them. It wasn’t just a founder’s achievement; it was a team victory, a collective celebration of what we’ve built together.
Gratitude & Acknowledgements: The Ecosystem That Made This Possible
No startup succeeds in isolation. Behind every recognition, every achievement, every milestone lies an ecosystem of supporters, enablers, and believers who made success possible. The Big Impact Awards 2025 was made possible by incredible organizers and sponsors whose commitment to celebrating entrepreneurship created this platform for recognition.
🎵 BIG FM
As a leading radio network with massive reach across Central India, BIG FM’s involvement brought significant media amplification to the awards. Their platform extended the message of entrepreneurial excellence far beyond the physical event, reaching millions of listeners and creating awareness about the innovation happening in their backyard. BIG FM understands that entrepreneurship stories inspire communities, and their commitment to sharing these stories helps build entrepreneurial culture in the region.
🏦 HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank’s sponsorship represents more than financial support—it signals the banking and financial services sector’s recognition of startup innovation’s importance. Banks like HDFC are increasingly acknowledging that supporting startups today builds the corporate relationships of tomorrow. Their involvement demonstrates that financial institutions see value in associating with entrepreneurial excellence and in supporting platforms that celebrate innovation.
For startups receiving recognition at HDFC-sponsored events, there’s an implicit endorsement—these are companies that India’s leading financial institutions believe are worth celebrating, worth supporting, and worth associating with. That endorsement carries weight with potential customers, investors, and partners.
🚗 Hyundai Motor India Ltd.
Hyundai’s participation as a sponsor brings international corporate credibility to the Big Impact Awards. When a global brand like Hyundai supports regional entrepreneurship recognition, it sends a powerful message: innovation in Central India matters to international corporations, regional startups are building things worthy of global attention, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem here deserves world-class support.
Hyundai’s involvement also creates interesting cross-industry connections. While automotive and cybersecurity seem distant, the future increasingly involves cybersecurity protecting connected vehicles, autonomous systems, and digital automotive infrastructure. Hyundai’s presence at these awards perhaps signals their awareness of how critical cybersecurity will become to automotive innovation.
📺 News24
News24’s sponsorship ensured extensive media coverage of the awards, amplifying the recognition far beyond the ceremony itself. Their broadcast and digital platforms brought entrepreneurship stories into homes across the region, creating awareness about innovation happening locally and inspiring potential entrepreneurs who might be considering taking the leap.
Media partners like News24 play a crucial role in building entrepreneurial culture. By giving visibility to startup success stories, they normalize entrepreneurship, celebrate business innovation, and inspire the next generation of founders. Their coverage of the Big Impact Awards helps position Central India as an innovation hub worthy of attention.
🏗️ Goel TMT
Goel TMT’s participation represents traditional industry recognizing and supporting new economy innovation. When established companies from sectors like steel and construction sponsor entrepreneurship awards, it demonstrates the ecosystem’s maturity—different industries supporting each other, traditional businesses acknowledging digital innovation’s importance, and a collective commitment to regional economic development.
This cross-sector support strengthens the entire ecosystem. It creates networking opportunities between traditional and digital businesses. It opens possibilities for technology solutions serving traditional industries. It builds a sense of community where all businesses, regardless of sector or vintage, celebrate each other’s success.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To BIG FM, HDFC Bank, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., News24, and Goel TMT—thank you. Your efforts, your investment, and your commitment created an unforgettable platform to recognize the region’s most impactful startups. You didn’t just sponsor an event; you invested in entrepreneurial culture, you celebrated innovation, and you sent a powerful message that startup success matters and deserves recognition.
These organizations could have deployed their marketing budgets in countless ways, but they chose to support an awards ceremony celebrating entrepreneurship. That choice matters. It demonstrates their commitment to ecosystem building, their belief in supporting innovation, and their understanding that today’s startups are tomorrow’s corporate leaders.
Beyond the sponsors, we’re grateful to the awards organizers who conceived this platform, the evaluation committee who judged entries fairly and rigorously, the event production team who created a world-class ceremony, and every ecosystem supporter who attended, participated, and celebrated with us. You made this recognition possible, and for that, C9Lab is eternally grateful.
Why This Award Matters: Beyond the Trophy
Awards can be meaningful or meaningless depending on what they represent and how they’re earned. The Big Impact Award for Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India isn’t sitting on a shelf collecting dust—it’s actively shaping C9Lab’s trajectory in profound ways. Here’s why this recognition matters deeply:
01. Validates Our Mission to Transform Cybersecurity
From C9Lab’s inception, we’ve been driven by a singular, audacious mission: to make cybersecurity smarter, scalable, and genuinely accessible to businesses of all sizes. This mission isn’t just marketing language—it’s the filter through which we make every decision, prioritize every feature, and serve every customer.
Making Cybersecurity Smarter: We refuse to accept that effective security must be complex. We’re leveraging AI and automation to make security operations intelligent, adaptive, and continuously improving. We’re building systems that learn from patterns, predict threats before they materialize, and recommend actions based on each organization’s specific context. Smart security doesn’t mean more features—it means better outcomes with less effort.
Making Cybersecurity Scalable: Traditional security approaches don’t scale well. They require proportional increases in team size, budget, and complexity as organizations grow. We’re building solutions that scale effortlessly—protecting 10 users as effectively as 10,000, securing startup infrastructure as thoroughly as enterprise systems, growing seamlessly with our customers’ ambitions.
Making Cybersecurity Accessible: Perhaps most importantly, we’re demolishing the barriers that have kept advanced security out of reach for small and medium businesses. Accessible means affordable pricing that scales with company size. It means intuitive interfaces that don’t require cybersecurity PhDs to operate. It means implementation that takes days rather than months. It means security that enables business rather than constraining it.
The Big Impact Award validates this mission completely. The evaluation committee didn’t just assess our technology—they evaluated our impact. They recognized that what we’re building matters, that who we’re serving deserves better options, and that how we’re approaching the challenge is innovative and effective. That external validation from respected judges matters immensely.
When you’re building something unconventional, when you’re challenging industry norms, when you’re taking an approach others question—external validation provides crucial confidence that your direction is right. This award confirms that our mission resonates, our approach is sound, and our impact is recognized. That confirmation energizes our team, strengthens our conviction, and justifies continuing to push boundaries.
02. Strengthens Our Position as Central India’s Cybersecurity Leader
Geography matters in business. Being recognized as the Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India isn’t just a nice title—it’s a strategic positioning that creates tangible advantages and opens specific opportunities.
Regional Leadership Creates Trust: When businesses in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and surrounding regions consider cybersecurity solutions, they now know that the award-winning leader is headquartered right here. We’re not a distant company serving them remotely—we’re their regional champion, we understand their specific context, we’re invested in their success, and we’re building reputation in their backyard. That local connection builds trust faster than national companies can replicate.
Media Visibility Amplifies Reach: Being an award winner generates ongoing media opportunities. Local publications want to feature us, regional business forums invite us to speak, industry events seek us as panelists, and potential customers research us after seeing award coverage. This earned media provides visibility that paid marketing can’t buy and credibility that advertisements don’t convey.
Government and Institutional Access: Award recognition opens doors to government relationships, institutional partnerships, and public sector opportunities. State agencies exploring cybersecurity solutions now see us as a proven, recognized provider. Educational institutions seeking industry partners view us as credible collaborators. Government innovation programs consider us for participation and support. These relationships accelerate growth in ways that pure commercial efforts can’t achieve.
Investor Attention and Confidence: For startups seeking investment, awards matter significantly. They provide third-party validation that investor due diligence teams value. They demonstrate market recognition beyond self-promotion. They indicate that the startup is gaining traction, building reputation, and achieving milestones that matter. When fundraising time comes, being able to say “award-winning cybersecurity startup” rather than just “cybersecurity startup” makes a meaningful difference.
Talent Attraction and Retention: Top talent wants to work for winners. The award signals to potential team members that C9Lab isn’t just another startup—we’re a recognized leader, we’re building something significant, and joining us means being part of something special. For existing team members, the recognition validates their decision to join C9Lab and reinforces pride in what we’re building together.
This regional leadership position isn’t about limiting our ambitions to Central India—it’s about establishing a strong home base from which we expand nationally and eventually globally. Every major company started somewhere, built reputation locally, and then leveraged that foundation for broader expansion. The Big Impact Award accelerates our regional establishment phase, providing the credibility platform for larger ambitions.
03. Motivates Us to Push Boundaries and Accelerate Impact
Recognition creates responsibility. When you’re publicly acknowledged as a leader, as an innovator, as a company making meaningful impact—expectations rise. That’s not a burden; it’s a catalyst for even greater achievement.
Raising Our Own Bar: The award sets a new baseline for C9Lab. We’re no longer striving to be recognized—we’re working to exceed the standards that earned us recognition. We’re pushing ourselves to innovate faster, serve customers better, expand impact more broadly, and build solutions more ambitiously. The award isn’t a destination where we can rest—it’s fuel propelling us toward even greater achievement.
Accountability to Stakeholders: Our customers, team members, investors, and ecosystem supporters now see us as an award-winning company. That creates healthy accountability. Customers expect award-winning service quality. Team members expect award-winning company culture and growth opportunities. Investors expect award-winning execution and results. This accountability drives continuous improvement across every dimension of our business.
Permission to Think Bigger: Sometimes, startups constrain their own ambitions—thinking too small, being too cautious, playing too safe. Recognition provides permission to think bigger. If we’re already recognized as the best cybersecurity startup in the region, why not aim to be the best in India? Why not set sights on global markets? Why not tackle more ambitious challenges? The award expands our sense of what’s possible.
Attracting Ambitious Opportunities: Winners attract opportunities that others don’t access. Potential partners who might have overlooked an unknown startup now actively seek collaboration. Customers with larger, more complex problems now trust us to solve them. Investors considering which startups to back see validation in our recognition. These amplified opportunities enable faster growth than we could achieve without recognition.
Inspiring the Ecosystem: Our recognition inspires other startups in Central India. If C9Lab can achieve national recognition from a regional base, others can too. If we can build innovative solutions that win awards, others will be motivated to pursue their own innovative ideas. Recognition creates positive ripple effects throughout the ecosystem, raising everyone’s ambitions and demonstrating what’s possible.
This motivational impact is deeply personal for our team. Every team member feels the pride of being part of an award-winning company. That pride translates into extra effort, greater commitment, higher quality standards, and stronger dedication to our mission. Culture isn’t built through perks and policies alone—it’s built through shared success and collective pride. The Big Impact Award strengthened C9Lab’s culture in ways that no internal program could replicate.
04. Creates Lasting Brand Equity and Market Positioning
Brand building is expensive and time-consuming for startups. Advertising budgets are limited. Marketing teams are small. Competition for attention is fierce. Awards provide a brand-building shortcut—credible, third-party endorsed positioning that resonates with target audiences.
“Award-Winning Cybersecurity” carries weight that “Innovative Cybersecurity” doesn’t. It’s objective rather than subjective. It’s validated rather than claimed. It’s recognized rather than asserted. This positioning advantage impacts every customer conversation, every partnership discussion, every media interview, and every market interaction.
The brand equity from this award compounds over time. Years from now, we’ll still reference being recognized as Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India in 2025. That recognition becomes part of our origin story, part of our credibility narrative, part of what distinguishes C9Lab from competitors. It’s an asset that appreciates rather than depreciates.
05. Opens Doors to Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
Partnerships drive startup growth, but establishing partnerships requires credibility. Potential partners evaluate whether collaborating with a startup is worth their time, whether the startup will deliver on commitments, and whether association will enhance or damage their own reputation.
Award recognition significantly reduces partnership friction. Technology vendors considering integration partnerships view award winners as safer bets. Channel partners deciding which solutions to resell prefer recognized brands over unknown alternatives. Corporate innovation teams exploring startup collaborations find it easier to justify partnerships with award-winning companies to internal stakeholders.
Post-award, we’ve already seen partnership conversations accelerate. Discussions that might have required lengthy credibility-building now progress more quickly because the award provides baseline validation. Partners who might have been hesitant now express stronger interest because external recognition de-risks the partnership decision.
06. Provides Foundation for International Expansion
While we’re currently focused primarily on the Indian market, global ambitions are part of C9Lab’s long-term vision. When that international expansion phase arrives, being able to position ourselves as “award-winning Indian cybersecurity startup” rather than “Indian cybersecurity startup” will matter significantly.
International customers and partners evaluating Indian technology companies look for validation signals—evidence that the company has achieved recognition in their home market, that they’re not just another vendor but a proven leader, that others have validated their capabilities. Awards provide exactly that validation.
The Big Impact Award, while regional, demonstrates that we’re not just operationally competent but recognized for excellence. It shows that we’ve been evaluated against peers and emerged as leaders. It provides a credential that translates across borders and resonates with international audiences evaluating Indian technology partners.
Looking Ahead: This Is Just The Beginning
The Big Impact Award marks an important milestone in C9Lab’s journey, but it’s emphatically not the destination. If anything, this recognition amplifies our ambitions, sharpens our focus, and accelerates our timeline for achieving even more significant impact. Here’s what comes next:
Continuing Our Innovation Journey
Awards are won for past achievements, but they create expectations for future innovation. We’re not resting on what earned us recognition—we’re doubling down on innovation that will define our future. Our product roadmap is more ambitious than ever, our research initiatives are exploring cutting-edge possibilities, and our commitment to solving real customer problems is unwavering.
We’re investing in AI capabilities that will revolutionize threat detection, in automation features that will eliminate entire categories of manual security work, in user experience innovations that will make sophisticated security accessible to non-experts, and in integration capabilities that will make C9Lab the central hub of customers’ security operations.
The award validates that our approach to innovation resonates with the market. Now we’re accelerating that innovation, bringing new capabilities to customers faster, pushing technological boundaries further, and ensuring that C9Lab remains at the forefront of cybersecurity evolution.
Expanding Our Impact Through Collaboration
The recognition from Big Impact Awards has already opened doors to new collaboration opportunities. We’re actively pursuing partnerships with complementary technology providers, exploring channel relationships with service providers serving our target markets, and investigating strategic alliances with organizations whose missions align with ours.
Collaboration amplifies impact. By working with partners who bring complementary capabilities, different market access, or specialized expertise, we can serve customers more comprehensively than any single company could alone. We’re building an ecosystem of partnerships that makes C9Lab’s solutions more powerful, more accessible, and more valuable.
Beyond commercial partnerships, we’re committed to ecosystem collaboration—contributing to industry standards, participating in threat intelligence sharing, supporting security education initiatives, and mentoring emerging startups. Our success creates responsibility to contribute back to the ecosystem that supported us.
Driving Global Impact from Indian Roots
Being recognized as Central India’s best cybersecurity startup isn’t about limiting our ambitions geographically—it’s about establishing a strong foundation for global expansion. India’s cybersecurity market is massive and growing rapidly, providing tremendous opportunity for domestic expansion. But our long-term vision extends beyond India to global markets where our solutions can protect businesses worldwide.
We’re building for global standards from day one—ensuring our solutions meet international compliance requirements, architecting our platform for multi-region deployment, and developing capabilities that serve diverse market needs. When the time comes for international expansion, C9Lab will be ready—not just operationally capable, but credentialed as an award-winning innovator.
Our goal is to make “Made in India” synonymous with cybersecurity excellence globally. We want international customers to seek Indian cybersecurity solutions not because they’re cheap, but because they’re innovative, effective, and world-class. C9Lab is committed to being part of that transformation—proving that Indian technology companies can compete and win on innovation, not just cost.
Pursuing Even Greater Recognition and Achievement
The Big Impact Award is incredibly meaningful, but it’s not the end of our recognition journey—it’s the beginning. This regional recognition validates that we’re on the right path. Now we’re setting sights on national and international recognition that will come from achieving even more significant milestones.
We’re targeting participation in national cybersecurity awards, industry innovation competitions, technology excellence programs, and international startup recognitions. Each recognition opportunity isn’t about collecting trophies—it’s about pushing ourselves to achieve the standards that earn recognition, about gaining visibility with new audiences, and about continuously raising our own bar.
More importantly, we’re focused on the achievements that matter most: delighted customers who trust their security to C9Lab, measurable reductions in cyber risk for the businesses we protect, market share growth that demonstrates customers choosing us over alternatives, and sustainable business growth that enables long-term impact. Awards recognize these achievements, but the achievements themselves—the actual impact we’re creating—are what truly matter.
Building the Team and Culture That Sustains Excellence
Awards are won by teams, not individuals. C9Lab’s recognition reflects the collective effort, talent, dedication, and excellence of every team member who’s contributed to our journey. As we grow, maintaining and strengthening that team excellence is crucial.
We’re committed to building a team culture that balances ambition with sustainability, that celebrates wins while learning from setbacks, that maintains urgency without burning out, and that attracts top talent while developing every team member to their full potential. Award-winning companies don’t just achieve recognition once—they build cultures that sustain excellence over time.
We’re investing in team development, creating clear growth paths, fostering innovation at all
Our hiring strategy now emphasizes not just skills and experience, but cultural fit and mission alignment. We want team members who are excited about democratizing cybersecurity, who see their work as meaningful beyond just a job, who take pride in being part of something recognized for excellence, and who are motivated to push boundaries alongside teammates who share their ambition.
Contributing to the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Recognition creates platform and voice. Now that C9Lab has been recognized as an award-winning startup, we have increased responsibility and opportunity to contribute to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem that supported our journey.
We’re committed to sharing our learnings with emerging startups—the mistakes we made and how we corrected them, the strategies that worked and why they succeeded, the challenges we faced and how we overcame them. We’re participating in startup mentorship programs, speaking at entrepreneurship events, contributing to startup publications, and making ourselves available to founders who can benefit from our experiences.
Beyond mentorship, we’re exploring ways to actively support the ecosystem—participating in startup accelerator programs as mentors or advisors, contributing to policy discussions that affect startup growth, advocating for ecosystem improvements that benefit all startups, and celebrating fellow entrepreneurs who are building innovative companies.
Our philosophy is simple: ecosystem support isn’t zero-sum. Helping other startups succeed doesn’t diminish our own success—it strengthens the entire ecosystem, making it more attractive to investors, more supportive of entrepreneurs, and more capable of producing multiple successful companies. A rising tide lifts all boats, and we’re committed to contributing to that rising tide.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals
India faces a significant cybersecurity talent gap. As businesses digitize rapidly, demand for security professionals far exceeds supply. This talent shortage constrains how quickly organizations can improve their security posture and limits the growth potential of cybersecurity companies.
C9Lab is committed to being part of the solution. We’re developing partnerships with universities and colleges to improve cybersecurity education, offering internship programs that provide students real-world security experience, creating educational content that makes cybersecurity concepts accessible, and participating in career guidance programs that inspire students to consider security careers.
Our award recognition gives us credibility and platform to make these educational contributions more impactful. Students and educational institutions take us more seriously when we’re recognized as award-winning leaders. Our message resonates more powerfully when backed by external validation. Our ability to attract and inspire the next generation is amplified by the recognition we’ve earned.
Beyond formal education, we’re contributing to community-driven security education—participating in security meetups, contributing to open-source security tools, publishing research and insights, and making cybersecurity knowledge more accessible to anyone interested in learning. Building India’s cybersecurity capability requires collective effort, and C9Lab is committed to contributing our share.
Never Forgetting Where We Came From
As C9Lab grows, as we achieve more recognition, as we expand into larger markets and pursue bigger opportunities, we’re committed to never forgetting our roots—the mission that started this journey, the values that guide our decisions, the customers we exist to serve, and the ecosystem that supported us when we were unknown.
This award represents validation from our home region—Central India recognizing one of its own. That recognition is precious and humbling. We’re not abandoning our regional roots as we pursue national and international growth—we’re carrying those roots with us, proving that world-class innovation can emerge from anywhere, that geography doesn’t limit potential, and that regional companies can compete globally while remaining connected to their origins.
We’re committed to maintaining our presence in Central India even as we expand elsewhere, to continuing to serve regional businesses even as we pursue enterprise customers, to supporting the local ecosystem even as we participate in national forums, and to remembering that every large company was once a small startup that someone believed in.
The Big Impact Award reminds us that impact matters more than scale, that excellence is recognized regardless of company size, and that staying true to our mission creates more sustainable success than chasing every trend or opportunity that emerges.
Reflections: What This Journey Has Taught Us
Receiving the Big Impact Award prompted deep reflection on C9Lab’s journey—where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. Here are the profound lessons this recognition has crystallized:
🎯 Mission Clarity Matters More Than Everything
In the chaos of startup building—pivoting products, chasing customers, managing cash flow, fighting fires—it’s easy to lose sight of why you started. Our mission to democratize cybersecurity has been our North Star through every challenge. When decisions were difficult, the mission provided clarity. When opportunities conflicted, the mission determined priorities. When the path forward was unclear, the mission illuminated the way.
This award validates that mission clarity resonates externally. Judges didn’t just evaluate our technology—they assessed whether we’re solving problems that matter, serving customers who need better solutions, and approaching challenges in innovative ways. Our unwavering commitment to making security smarter, scalable, and accessible differentiated us from competitors with fancier technology but less clear purpose.
🚀 Excellence Is Recognized Eventually
In the early days of building C9Lab, recognition seemed distant. We were unknown, unproven, and often overlooked. Customers chose established vendors despite our superior solutions. Investors passed because we lacked traction. Media ignored us because we weren’t newsworthy yet. Those rejections stung and sometimes sparked doubt.
But this award proves that excellence, sustained over time, eventually gets recognized. We didn’t win by being flashy or by having the biggest marketing budget. We won by consistently delivering value, by genuinely solving customer problems, by innovating relentlessly, and by building something worth recognizing. The lesson: focus on being excellent, and recognition will follow. Chase recognition without substance, and it remains elusive.
🤝 Ecosystem Support Is Invaluable
No startup succeeds alone. Behind C9Lab’s recognition lies an ecosystem of supporters—early customers who took chances on an unproven company, mentors who provided guidance when we needed it most, ecosystem organizations that provided platforms and support, team members who believed in our vision, and countless others who contributed in ways large and small.
This award isn’t just C9Lab’s achievement—it reflects the ecosystem that nurtured us. That understanding creates deep gratitude and strong commitment to pay it forward, to support other startups as we were supported, and to contribute to ecosystem strengthening so that future entrepreneurs have even better support than we received.
💪 Persistence Beats Perfection
C9Lab’s journey hasn’t been perfect. We’ve made mistakes, launched features that didn’t resonate, pursued customers who weren’t the right fit, and made countless decisions we’d do differently with hindsight. But we persisted—learning from mistakes, adapting based on feedback, iterating until solutions worked, and maintaining belief through setbacks.
This award validates that persistence matters more than perfection. Winners aren’t companies that never failed—they’re companies that failed, learned, adapted, and kept moving forward. The judges saw not just where we are today but the journey that got us here, the obstacles overcome, and the resilience demonstrated. That journey, with all its imperfections, is what earned recognition.
🌟 Team Quality Determines Outcomes
Products and strategies matter, but teams determine outcomes. C9Lab’s success reflects the exceptional quality of our team—their talent, dedication, collaboration, and shared commitment to our mission. Every feature built, every customer served, every challenge overcome, and every milestone achieved reflects collective team effort.
This award belongs to the entire team. It validates that we’ve attracted remarkable people, that we’ve created an environment where they can do their best work, and that collective excellence produces recognized outcomes. The lesson: invest in team quality, culture, and development—everything else flows from having exceptional people working together effectively.
🎓 Customer Focus Creates Sustainable Success
Throughout our journey, whenever we’ve faced difficult decisions, we’ve asked: “What serves customers best?” That customer-centric orientation has guided product prioritization, pricing decisions, support investments, and strategic direction. Sometimes it meant saying no to opportunities that distracted from customer value. Sometimes it meant building features that weren’t immediately profitable but solved important customer problems.
This award validates that customer obsession creates sustainable competitive advantage. Judges evaluated not just our technology but our customer impact—are we solving real problems, are customers satisfied with our solutions, are we creating measurable value? Our consistent customer focus differentiated us from competitors focused primarily on technology sophistication or investor storytelling.
🏆 This Recognition Is Not Just A Milestone—It’s A Movement
For C9Lab, receiving the Big Impact Award as Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India represents far more than a trophy on a shelf or a line on a resume. It’s validation of our mission, recognition of our journey, acknowledgment of our team’s excellence, and fuel propelling us toward even greater impact.
Standing on that stage on February 18, 2025, in Bhopal, receiving this recognition from distinguished leaders in front of the entrepreneurial community we’re proud to be part of—that moment encapsulated everything we’ve worked toward. Every challenge faced, every obstacle overcome, every late night, every difficult decision, every small win building toward this larger recognition—it all made sense in that moment.
This is what we believe, and what this award reinforces: Excellence is always recognized eventually. Mission clarity creates sustainable success. Customer obsession builds lasting competitive advantage. Team quality determines outcomes. Persistence beats perfection. And genuine impact—solving real problems for real people—matters more than any metric, any valuation, or any recognition.
But this recognition isn’t an endpoint where we celebrate and rest. It’s a catalyst for acceleration, a validation that increases ambition, a platform that amplifies opportunity, and a responsibility that demands continuous excellence.
C9Lab is not stopping here. This is not the pinnacle of our achievement—it’s the foundation for what comes next. We’re motivated to push boundaries further, to accelerate our global impact, to continue innovating relentlessly, and to prove that this recognition was just the beginning of something far more significant.
Our Commitment Moving Forward
To our customers: We commit to continuously earning your trust through excellence in everything we deliver.
To our team: We commit to creating an environment where you can do the best work of your careers.
To our ecosystem: We commit to contributing back as generously as you’ve supported us.
To our region: We commit to making Central India proud through continued innovation and achievement.
To the cybersecurity community: We commit to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in accessible, intelligent protection.
A Final Word of Gratitude
To the Big Impact Awards organizers—thank you for creating this platform. To the judges who evaluated our journey—thank you for recognizing our impact. To Mr. Rajendra Shukla and Ms. Minissha Lamba—thank you for presenting this prestigious recognition. To BIG FM, HDFC Bank, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., News24, and Goel TMT—thank you for supporting entrepreneurship through your sponsorship.
To our customers who trusted us when we were unproven—this award reflects your confidence in us. To our team who built something worth recognizing—this achievement is yours. To our advisors and mentors who guided us—your wisdom made this possible. To our families who supported us through the uncertainty—your belief sustained us. To the ecosystem that nurtured C9Lab—we’re forever grateful.
This recognition is not just a milestone, but a motivation to keep innovating, collaborating, and driving the future of cybersecurity. For us at C9Lab—this is just the beginning.
With gratitude and determination,
— Team C9Lab
Best Cybersecurity Startup in Central India, Big Impact Awards 2025
The Journey Continues: 2025 and Beyond
The Big Impact Award marks a significant milestone in C9Lab’s 2025 journey, but it’s one chapter in a much larger story. As we look ahead, we see a future where:
C9Lab becomes synonymous with accessible cybersecurity—not just in Central India, not just in India, but globally. We envision businesses worldwide recognizing that sophisticated security doesn’t require sophisticated expertise, that enterprise-grade protection doesn’t require enterprise-sized budgets, and that C9Lab is the partner that makes this vision reality.
AI-powered security becomes the standard, not the exception—and C9Lab leads that transformation. We’re building toward a future where security operations are predominantly automated, where AI continuously learns and adapts to new threats, where security teams focus on strategy rather than repetitive tasks, and where small organizations defend themselves as effectively as large enterprises.
Every business operates securely regardless of size or resources—because solutions like C9Lab make protection universally accessible. We envision a future where cybersecurity is no longer a competitive advantage enjoyed by the few but a baseline capability available to all, where startups can innovate without fear of catastrophic breaches, and where digital trust becomes universal rather than scarce.
India emerges as a global cybersecurity innovation leader—not just consuming international solutions but creating and exporting world-class security technologies. We see C9Lab as part of a wave of Indian cybersecurity companies that prove Indian innovation can compete and win globally, that “Made in India” becomes synonymous with security excellence, and that Indian entrepreneurs help secure the global digital economy.
This award from Big Impact 2025 is fuel for that journey. It validates that we’re on the right path, that our mission resonates, that our approach works, and that our impact is recognized. Now we accelerate—building faster, innovating bolder, serving more customers, expanding into new markets, and pursuing the ambitious vision that inspired C9Lab’s creation.