#InnovationAndEntrepreneurship

What happens when two young engineers with no farming background land in rural India armed with drones and curiosity? Amandeep Panwar and Rishabh Choudhary were not looking to change agriculture, but a few unexpected questions from farmers set them on a path that took root in the most surprising way.

Two college students, Snehadeep Kumar and Mohit Kumar Nayak, are building India’s first gamma-ray detecting CubeSat via their space startup Nebula Space Organisation, using affordable local materials and groundbreaking innovation.

A visit to a village without steady electricity stayed with an NIT Rourkela professor. That moment shaped a clean-energy microgrid that can now power four rural homes at once and adapt to changing weather. This is the story of how it came to life.

On a January evening at IIT Bombay’s E-Cell event, Sheena and Karan Khurana walked onto a stage with a frozen espresso shot and 10 minutes to tell Zenma Coffee’s story. What followed brought belief, mentorship and a turning point for the startup she built with her brother Karan.

Developed by IIT Mandi’s Dr Kala Venkata Uday, this low-cost AI device can predict landslides up to three hours in advance. Installed across 60 sites in Himachal Pradesh, it uses machine learning and sensors to protect families living in India’s mountain regions.

For nearly 30 years, IIT Bombay’s ‘Eureka!’ has been helping young innovators turn campus ideas into thriving startups. Run entirely by students, this business-model competition connects founders with mentors, investors, and the lessons no classroom can teach.

Founder of Harvested Robotics, Rahul Arepaka (22) built Rakshak, an AI-powered laser-weeding robot that combats weeds without harming the crops. He is now using it to help farmers earn more.

Frustrated by the unpredictable nature of Chennai's ‘share auto’ system, three college friends — Jaishankar, Amal, and Asfaq — decided to create a solution. They developed two apps: QPo Shareride for passengers and QPo Driver for drivers.

Engineering student Mihir Vardhan converted his grandfather’s Hyundai Santro into an electric car using low-cost methods in just three days, saving around Rs 1.5 lakh. He tells us how he did it.

Rahul Bansal and Phalgun Vyas won an innovation contest at IIT Bombay for their temperature-controlled vest that can keep one cool in the summer and warm during winters.