Top 100 Innovators Shine at Youth Ideathon 2024 Finale Hosted by IIT Delhi

The Youth Ideathon 2024, a school entrepreneurship competition with 1.8 lakh young innovators from over 5,000 schools, culminated in a gala showcase of the top 100 teen innovators.

The 4th edition of the ‘Youth Ideathon 2024,’ India’s entrepreneurship competition for school students, concluded today with a gala event at IIT Delhi. This year’s competition saw the participation of over 1.8 lakh young innovators representing more than 5,000 schools from across the country. The event culminated in a grand showcase, where the Top 100 teen innovators displayed their ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.

The event also introduced innovative social experiments, including a collaboration with The Kid Company, allowing school students to list, sell, and attract investments for their ideas, offering them valuable real-world business experience. The Top 100 teams participated in hands-on entrepreneurship by selling their innovations and raising INR 40 lakh in crowdfunding through The Kid Company platform.

Top 6 Teams at Youth Ideathon 2024

The Top 6 teams selected for the INR 1 lakh per idea incubation grant are as follows:

1. Vidyashilp Academy, NIRI a water conservation business
2. Sanskriti School, PadhAI, an affordable AI based multilingual affordable learning platform
3. Lilawati Sr Sec School, New Delhi, an affordable clean air chimney solution for MSME
4. ODM Public School, Bhubaneswar, Project Skymist, generates water from the atmosphere on the concept of Peltier effect
5. Army Public School, Kolkata, AI-based homework checking and assessment solution
6. Aditya Vidyashram Residential School, Puducherry, all in one solar powered car for agriculture

The competition, conducted over five stages, invited entries from students in two categories - Junior (Class 4 to 8) and Senior (Class 9 to 12). In a record-breaking turnout, 1.8 lakh students from over 5,000 schools participated. More than 53,000 teams submitted their initial ideas, presenting a diverse array of creative solutions. Following a rigorous selection process, 1,500 teams advanced to the next stage, where they presented their ideas through video pitches. Additionally, 500 teams received INR 1,000 each to develop prototypes and further showcase their projects.

Organised by ThinkStartup and Management Entrepreneurship Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) in association with the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) and IIT Delhi, Youth Ideathon is India’s biggest innovation and entrepreneurship competition designed specifically for school students from classes 4 to 12.

Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education & Training), CBSE, Ministry of Education, Government of India, said,"The overwhelming response to Youth Ideathon 2024 is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s young minds. CBSE is proud to support initiatives like this, which cultivate creativity, problem-solving skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset from a young age.”

Anil Pokhriyal, CEO, Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council stated, "Youth Ideathon 2024 has proven that India’s school students are brimming with ideas and potential. Our role is to provide them with the right tools and opportunities to turn their ideas into reality. This competition is not just about innovation; it’s about building a stronger, self-reliant India driven by young entrepreneurs."

Shivani Singh-Kapoor, Co-founder, ThinkStartup, shared her thoughts on the event’s impact," Youth Ideathon continues to be a platform that not only promotes entrepreneurial thinking but also brings out the creativity and resourcefulness of students across India. With over 2 lakh participants this year, the response is overwhelming and confirms the hunger for innovation in our young generation."

Sanjeeva Shivesh, Program Director, Youth Ideathon, reflected on the journey of the participants, “One of the best things about this platform is that as a competition there are many people who support us. At the top are PSEs, and then there is CBSE. And this year, IIT Delhi has vigorously agreed to the collaboration. More than 100 IIT PhD scholars are involved in the evaluation and assessment process of Youth Ideathon.”

The IIT Delhi Outreach Office played a pivotal role in organising and coordinating the event, ensuring an enriching experience for all participants. Their efforts underscored IIT Delhi’s dedication to nurturing young talent and promoting innovation.

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