The Department of Higher Education (DHE), in collaboration with the Startup and IT Promotion Cell, organised the Innovative Idea Challenge 2025 as part of ‘Converge 2.0’, a premier platform aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students across the state of Goa.
The challenge witnessed an overwhelming response from students, reinforcing Goa’s commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurial talent.
• The first place was won by Team Autonomous Swimming Pool Cleaner (Rahul Patil, Rochelle D’souza, Abhishca Tauro and Gajendra Chaubey) from Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar.
• The second place was won by Team Nova Hustlers (Yash Pednekar & Gautham Krishna) students from PCCE and AITD.
• The third place was won by Team Anukool (Gayatri Naik, Sejal Popkar, Govardhan Naik & Shweta Gaude) from PES’s college of Arts and Science, Farmagudi.
Dr Niyan Marchon, DHE, Convenor of Converge and the Innovative Idea Challenge, with Prashant S. Bhomkar, Assistant Professor, DHE co-ordinated the Contest. D. S. Prashant, CEO of the Startup and IT Promotion Cell of Goa supported and mentored the Idea Challenge contest.
The Innovative Idea Challenge 2025 was launched in February 2025, with the objective of promoting problem-solving, creative thinking, and market-ready startup ideas among students.
The challenge saw an enthusiastic participation of 97 student teams from over 50 educational institutes reflecting the growing interest in entrepreneurship within the student community.
After a rigorous screening process, the top25innovative ideas were shortlisted, and the selected teams were invited to present their ideas to a distinguished panel of judges. The competition’s structure ensured that the most innovative and high-impact ideas progressed to the final round.
A panel of eminent experts from the startup ecosystem evaluated the submissions at various stages. The initial round was judged by Varsha Adusumilli – Author, Investor and Trainer; Abhishek Singh – Incubation Manager at AIC-GIM and Amey Karmali – CEO, Center for Incubation and Business Acceleration (CIBA)
Following this, the top 10 startup ideas advanced to the grand finale, scheduled for March 13, 2025, at Converge 2.0.
In preparation for the final round, a specialised pitch training program was conducted on March 10, 2025, by Varsha Adusumilli. The session focussed on strengthening pitch decks, enhancing presentation skills and equipping participants with the necessary insights to build market-ready and investable startups. The training provided a 360-degree perspective on refining business models and strategic storytelling to make compelling investment pitches.
The final pitching round took place on March 13, 2025, during Converge 2.0. The distinguished panel of judges for the grand finale included: Varsha Adusumilli – BITS Pilani, Goa alumni with extensive experience in startups and venture capital. Varsha had previously started Kstart, a $10M seed fund anchored by Kalaari Capital, and earlier served as the Founding VP of Business Development & Campaigns at YourStory Media. Varsha’s book, Wonder Girls, and the initiative Wonder Girls Academy impacted over 12,000 adolescents from across India.
Rohini Gonsalves – Founder and Chairperson of Sevarat Healthcare and Nursing Pvt Ltd who runs a dedicated senior care service, alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10000 Women program at IIM Bangalore and winner of several awards.
and Rafina Shaikh (Siya) – a TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and social impact leader empowering women entrepreneurs in Goa, founder of GoWomania LLP, Women Entrepreneurs Business Network (WEBN), and GoenKart.
The final round saw an intense competition, with teams showcasing their innovative ideas, scalable solutions, and market viability. After careful deliberation, the panel selected the top winners, whose groundbreaking ideas stood out for their creativity, feasibility and potential for real-world impact. The top 10 teams selected for the Innovative Idea Challenge were: Anukool, SISF-RTMS (Solar-Powered IoT-Based Smart Farming Device with Real-Time Monitoring System), Harnessing the Potential of Khazan Lands: Sustainable Farming and Agrivoltaics, No Dust, Decentralized Carbon Credit Marketplace, Radiant Roshni, Autonomous Swimming Pool Cleaner, Neural Kissan, Nova Hustlers, and Needy Paws.
The Department of Higher Education with the support of Startup and IT Promotion Cell, Government of Goa, reaffirm their dedication to fostering student-driven innovation and creating a robust startup ecosystem in the state. By providing mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities, the initiative aims to equip young entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to succeed in the competitive business landscape.
Additionally, the Innovative Idea Challenge 2025 serves as a stepping stone for many students to transition from conceptual ideas to viable startup ventures. With continuous support from government and industry leaders, these young innovators will have access to incubation programs, funding opportunities, and investor networking events to transform their ideas into reality.
The success of the Innovative Idea Challenge 2025 is a testament to Goa’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and the state’s proactive approach in promoting innovation-led economic growth.
