Innovators Meet Investors at VNIT Consortium’s Grand Finale

Nagpur: The final day of VNIT's flagship startup summit, Consortium '25, organised in collaboration with The Times of India and Maharashtra Times, witnessed a dynamic exchange of ideas as multiple innovators pitched their ventures to investors. The event provided budding entrepreneurs with a platform to seek funding and gain valuable insights from industry leaders.Among the participants were Dhroov Jindal and Honey Pal, who pitched their startup, FlexiBuy, in the Shark Tank Conso session. They said that the event offered them crucial advice and exposure. They also highlighted the branding session at the investors' summit as a valuable learning opportunity that would help them refine their startup journey.Saurabh Dhondhwe, who presented MyResorts, described the experience as transformative, stating that it provided a deeper understanding of startup pitching and would aid in building a strong foundation for new entrepreneurs.Pratik Petkar showcased Makeface, a platform he claims to be the world's first multi-profile social media platform with an anime niche, or perhaps India's first true social media platform. Sharing the dedication behind his venture, he revealed that his team had worked tirelessly for ten months, often putting in 12 to 16 hours a day.Tejas R Bhandarkar, an industrial engineer from Ramdeobaba College, introduced his startup, BeRAM. He expressed his enthusiasm about the opportunity to interact with investors, gain insights into industry trends and learn how branding can be adapted to evolving market demands.Another participant, Shrihari Bolwatkar from Hislop College, presented Kidz Kapers and described the event as an enlightening experience. He appreciated the expert guidance provided by investors and industry veterans, which helped him understand the intricacies of launching a successful startup.Several startups managed to secure investments, including Makeface, Bids on Motors, SmartU, and Kidz Kapers. The event also featured multiple engaging activities, including the finale of BIZMUN, the CEO challenge, and an IPL auction-style competition, making it a comprehensive platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to network and learn.In the BIZ-MUN challenge, Esha won the title of Best Delegate for her portfolio on Coca-Cola, while Anushka received the High Commendation award for her representation of Google. The CEO competition saw Kaivalya Pardeshi emerge as the winner, followed by Ananya Goswami and Juned Rafik Tamboli. The Adventure challenge crowned Team Cyber Criminal as the champions, with Creative Crew and Radhe Radhe securing second and third place respectively.In the Wall Street event, Arnav Garg took the top spot, while Shreyas Rane and Rishikesh Gaikwad followed in second and third place. Another exciting segment, Jugaad, challenged teams to turn an initial fund of Rs100 into maximum profit within a day. Team Dapert emerged victorious, followed by Team Ravs Team in second place and Team IT Girls in third. These competitions added a dynamic edge to the summit, fostering innovation, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit among participants.