Bengaluru: The Grand Finale of Avinya, a nationwide student innovation initiative by Veranda K-12, concluded successfully at the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore).
The event marked the culmination of a rigorous, multi-stage journey that brought together some of India’s most promising young innovators from Grades 8 to 12.
Avinya aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among school students by encouraging solutions aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The finale celebrated visionary ideas addressing real-world challenges, presented by students from diverse regions across the country.
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Avinya Sees Participation from 15 Cities Nationwide
The Avinya journey began with more than 385 entries submitted by students from 15 cities and towns across India.
Following a detailed evaluation process, shortlisted participants underwent specialised training, mentorship sessions, and an intensive bootcamp designed to refine their ideas and strengthen their entrepreneurial thinking.
The Grand Finale featured live project presentations evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising industry leaders, startup founders, and academic experts.
Avinya 2025 Winners Announced
The top three winners of Avinya 2025 were announced at the conclusion of the event:
- Winner: Chitrashree C & Divyanshi Soo, Deeksha STEM School, Bengaluru
- First Runner-Up: H Praveena Sri Dhurka, BVM Global Group of Schools, Perungudi, Chennai
- Second Runner-Up: S Meena & R. Dharshine, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ambattur, Chennai
The finalists demonstrated exceptional innovation, creativity, and practical problem-solving capabilities while addressing sustainability-focused challenges.
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Industry and Academic Leaders Support Avinya Mission
The finale was judged by a panel that included Chaitanya Shravanth, Founder & CEO, Circle Health; Navratan Katariya, Director – Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IoT & AI), NASSCOM; Prateek Madhav, Co-founder & CEO, AssisTech Foundation; and Kalpana Subbarramappa, Program Manager, Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc.
The inauguration ceremony featured Deepak Paul, Managing Director, igus (India) Pvt. Ltd, as Chief Guest, who underscored the importance of nurturing innovation at a young age and highlighted clarity of thought and problem definition as key drivers of effective innovation.
At the awards ceremony, Chief Guest Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, emphasised that innovation must be driven by purpose and responsibility.
He highlighted IIIT-Bangalore’s commitment to sustainability and noted that Avinya provides a meaningful platform for students to apply their ideas to real-world challenges.
Avinya Nurtures Future Changemakers
Rajesh Pankaj, Joint CEO, Veranda K-12, stated that Avinya was built on the belief that innovation and purpose must begin early. He highlighted that the Grand Finale reflected deep thinking, empathy, and a strong commitment among students to solving pressing global challenges aligned with the SDGs.
Through structured mentorship, bootcamps, and live evaluations, Avinya continues to empower students with the confidence and capabilities required to transform ideas into actionable, impact-driven solutions.
