Chandigarh, July 19 -- Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday called for deeper collaboration between his state and Chandigarh's startup ecosystem, while attending TiE Chandigarh's leadership conclave and 23rd annual general meeting at Hyatt Regency as chief guest. Addressing over 300 entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, Sukhu said Himachal Pradesh was steadily building its own innovation ecosystem through improved digital infrastructure and policy support, with opportunities across agriculture, tourism, renewable energy and IT. He invited TiE Chandigarh to partner with the state government on startup mentoring, investor connect programmes and incubation initiatives, saying the state's youth needed only mentorship and funding support to compete nationally. TiE Chandigarh president Puneet Verma, who hails from Himachal's Palampur, said the chapter looked forward to helping entrepreneurs expand into the state. The CM noted that a "Son of the soil" leading one of North India's most active entrepreneurial networks was a matter of pride for Himachal. The conclave, themed "Strengthening partnerships, advancing entrepreneurship," also featured TiE Chandigarh's Chapter Awards Ceremony. Brahm Alreja, previously the chapter's vice president and founder of Innovative Incentives and Rewards, was announced as the new president for 2026-27, alongside a new 12-member governing council....