Varanasi: IDAPT Hub Pitch Challenge finals start at IIT-BHU today

VARANASI: I-DAPT Hub Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology- (BHU) Varanasi will be conducting the finals of the national level mega event for start-ups IDAPT Hub Pitch Challenge on Monday and Tuesday to mark the celebration of Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
According to director of IIT (BHU) Varanasi, Prof Pramod Kumar Jain, applications from the students, innovators, startups developing cutting-edge technologies in power, healthcare, defence, telecommunications, road transport and highways related thrust area had been received from across India for the contest.
After several rounds of screening, 24 teams have been shortlisted for the finals which will now demonstrate their products/ prototypes to the jury members. Winners and runner-ups will get cash prizes worth Rs five lakhs and a direct entry for the screening round of incubation process at I-DAPT Hub Foundation- a nodal centre and a technology Innovation Hub (TIH) for technology development and activities in 'Data Analytics and Predictive Technologies' and other related areas under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NMICPS).
The startups shortlisted for finals are working on emerging and critical technologies like artificial intelligence (Al), drone technology, urban mobility, portable diagnostic systems, mobile applications, robotics and other relevant modern tech innovations.
A panel of eminent juries including Prof A Veeraragavan from IIT-Madras, Prof R Balasubramanian from IIT-Roorkee, Dr Malay Kumar Nema from CAIR, DRDO, Mukul Gaur from Ordnance Factory Board and Prof P Vedagiri from IIT-Bombay will evaluate the startups in the finals.
Apart from pitching, a start-up exhibition will also be held while a start-up street has been created for displaying their products.
Prof Jain said that through such events future generation will learn to think analytically towards the critical problems persisting in the society. These events open door for implementation of new ideas and converting it into a successful venture.