IIT Mandi declares winners of Startup Grand Challenge; Gives Rs 6 lakh total cash prize

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi’s incubator has announced the winners of ‘HST Startup Grand Challenge’, a startup pitch competition including three different themes - the new age alliance, the foothill innovators challenge, and the habitable world challenge.

The institute concluded the fifth edition of its Annual Flagship Event, Himalayan Startup Trek (HST) in partnership with IIT Mandi iHUB and HCI Foundation. Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog was the chief guest. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jairam Thakur congratulated and extended best wishes to all participants through a video message and ensured commitment for supporting the startup ecosystem.

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Over 300 startups, innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs participated in the startup grand challenge. Under the theme new age alliance, Upside Down Labs became the winner receiving award money of Rs 1 lakh. Dextroware Devices and Dectrocel Healthcare bagged the second and third positions with Rs 60,000 and Rs 40,000 cash prizes respectively.

Under the foothill innovators challenge, Baud resources secured the first position followed by Apeiro Energy and UNG Technologies.

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Under the last theme, Aumsat Technologies LLP secured Rs 1 lakh prize while Rudhra Solar and Aqua India managed to bag second position winning Rs 40,000. The third position was secured by WEGoT Utility Solutions taking Rs 40,000.

IIT Mandi’s startup pitch competition

Besides the prize money, the winners will also be provided with incubation support and funding access for prototyping as well product developments through various funding schemes hosted by Catalyst and will receive upto Rs 50 lakh of funding.

Kant said, “In 2021 alone, 42 new unicorns have risen in India. The three themes that HST Grand Challenge included - HCI, Build for the Himalayas, and Environment and Sustainability, are all the focus areas that the world requires today.”

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Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, director of IIT Mandi said, “Congratulations to all the startups for coming up with the new solutions. We will ensure the success of the winning teams with incubation support and look forward to inspiring more and more startups with innovative solutions. IIT Mandi is happy to take the responsibility of building and strengthening the startup valley in Himachal Pradesh.”