Innopreneurs 2014 brings together startups from all over the country

A national-level Project Idea contest, Innopreneurs was organized jointly by city-based innovations firm Lemon Ideas and Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Nagpur recently. It was a platform for common, stupid, crazy but innovative ideas that had the potential to create a difference. A total of 24 startup ideas were pitched for the final round out of the 70 which were chosen from the 150 registered ideas. Three entries were shortlisted for grand finale.

“Innovation is the act of identifying a problem that matters and fully solving it,” said Venkatesh Padmanabhan, CEO-EICL, Karan Thapar Group who was the chief guest of the event. He also talked about the importance of innovation and adaptability for an entrepreneur. The guest of honour, MD of GlobalLogic Shashikant Chaudhary shared his experiences as an entrepreneur with the participants. Vishwas Mahajan, President-TIE Pune chapter who was the Special Jury member, shared the changes happening in country in terms of technology and democracy which he said would affect the start-up businesses greatly in the near future.

Chief Idea Farmer from Lemon Ideas, Deepak Menaria had one simple message to the young and ambitious people, “Fall in love with your ideas and do all you can to pursue them.” IMT dean Ranjeet Goswami was happy to see so many enthusiastic participants.

The project udchalo.com by Ravi Kumar Gupta from Pune was declared winner, getting him a prize worth Rs. 50,000. The startup promised to provide plane tickets in the price of 3tier AC ticket. Delhi-based startup Langhar.com of Karanpreet Singh and Manisha won the second position and a prize of Rs 30,000. Their idea was helping those not-so-fond of cooking get home cooked meals from those who do.

The second runner-up team Gau Anusandhan of Jeetendra Bakhane and Bhagyashree Bakhane from Nagpur got the prize of Rs. 20,000. Their idea was about utilising all waste products of cows for medicinal purposes.

Special appreciation was given to School Bag cum Study table design by Priyadarshini Institute of Architecture and Design and Mally.in, a digital shopping platform.