04 May InnovateX 2025: A Catalyst for Social Entrepreneurship at TISS Tuljapur

The Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Tuljapur, successfully organized InnovateX on April 4th and 5th, 2025-a pioneering two-day intra-college entrepreneurial fest designed to ignite innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among students. This landmark event provided a vibrant platform for budding changemakers to engage in strategic challenges, develop social business ideas, and gain insights from industry leaders, all within a socially conscious academic environment.

A Collaborative Endeavor with AIC-IIITH

A key highlight of InnovateX 2025 was the partnership with AIC-IIITH (Atal Incubation Centre at IIIT Hyderabad), which served as the official knowledge partner for the event. AIC-IIITH is a premier incubation centre dedicated to nurturing tech-based social enterprises, supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India. Their involvement brought invaluable expertise in social entrepreneurship and innovation, enriching the event’s content and mentoring support.

Anasua Tewari, Analyst at AIC-IIITH, represented the knowledge partner during the inauguration and throughout the fest, facilitating knowledge sessions and guiding participants on leveraging technology for social impact. This collaboration ensured that InnovateX was not just a competition but a learning ecosystem aligned with national goals of sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship.

Engaging Competitions and Experiential Learning

InnovateX featured three flagship challenges:

• Best Management Team (BMT): A team-based contest emphasizing collaboration, crisis management, and real-world corporate problem-solving.
• Best Manager (BM): An individual challenge testing leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making under pressure.
• Best Social Business Idea (BSBI): A multi-stage challenge where teams ideated, developed, and pitched socially driven business models, incorporating ethical dilemmas and technology for impact.

The event’s design incorporated diverse rounds such as business quizzes, role-plays on workplace dilemmas, crisis press conferences, and innovative prototyping from scrap materials. These activities simulated real-world entrepreneurial challenges, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and resilience among participants.

Inspiring Keynotes and Practical Insights

The fest was enriched by keynote addresses from distinguished entrepreneurs:

• Mayura Davda-Shah, Founder & Creative Director at MAYU & Hommage, inaugurated InnovateX with a compelling talk on Sustainability and Social Impact, emphasizing eco-conscious fashion and responsible entrepreneurship.
• Prashant Rathi, a seasoned entrepreneur with global business experience, delivered a powerful session on scaling enterprises and navigating international markets, offering practical advice on innovation and growth.

Both sessions resonated deeply with students, inspiring them to embed sustainability and ethical considerations into their entrepreneurial journeys.

Dynamic Final Rounds and Celebrations

Day two witnessed intense final rounds where BSBI teams refined and pitched their social business ideas, demonstrating strategic use of technology and ethical decision-making. BMT finalists creatively transformed scrap materials into functional prototypes, while BM finalists underwent a rigorous stress test simulating high-pressure managerial scenarios.

The event culminated in a grand felicitation ceremony recognizing outstanding talent:

• Best Management Team Winners: Ananya, Arushi, and Alfiya
• Best Manager Winner: Shamai
• Best Social Business Idea Winners: Victor, Akheel, Aparna, and Nirupama

Impact and Future Prospects

Participants lauded InnovateX for its seamless organization, interactive format, and the opportunity to apply entrepreneurial concepts in practical settings. The involvement of AIC-IIITH as a knowledge partner significantly enhanced the event’s quality by providing mentorship and connecting students to the broader social enterprise ecosystem.

Attendees expressed enthusiasm for future editions, recommending expanded workshops and networking opportunities to further cultivate the entrepreneurial ecosystem at TISS Tuljapur.

Conclusion

InnovateX 2025 marked a milestone in fostering entrepreneurial talent at TISS Tuljapur, blending competitive spirit with social consciousness and innovation. The collaboration with AIC-IIITH enriched the experience, aligning the event with national priorities of sustainable development and social impact through entrepreneurship. As InnovateX sets a high benchmark, it promises to inspire and empower future generations of changemakers committed to building a just and sustainable society.