A two-day entrepreneurial event- Next founders 2.0 startupedia’25 was conducted by the Department of Accountancy at SIES (Nerul) College of Arts, Science & Commerce.
The event was aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among college students.
“The event marked the spirit of National startup Day 2025 and was aligned with the government’s efforts to foster a thriving ecosystem under the UDYAMOTSAV 2025″, said an official.
The two-day event was conducted on January 10 and 13. The Chief Guest on the day one of the event was Sandeep Balani, Vice President of Jio Ads.
The competition began with the start-up pitch, with 12 participating teams divided into two groups. The event was judged by Ramesh Neel, founder of Able Network; Kiran Khetwai, fitness trainer and coach; Chaitanya Songirkar, professor; and Avneet Bhatia, founder of Nature Fit.
Participants presented innovative business ideas, focusing on market potential and scalability. While some teams displayed strong preparation and confidence, others faced challenges answering judges’ critical questions. After an engaging first round, the judges deliberated and selected six teams for the final stage. The day concluded with the distribution of participation certificates to all teams.
The final round was held on January 13 with the selected six teams presenting refined pitches. “Teams had reworked on their marketing skills, they had worked on the revenue structure and scalability and go to market strategies. Teams by adapting and incorporating the feedback received from the judges showcased a strong entrepreneurial mind-set,” said a representative.
The panel of judges on the second day were Nirav Karkera, Head of Fisdom Research, and Swapnil Kshirsagar, Business Growth Consultant, alongside Ramesh Neel and Kiran Khetwai.
The competition concluded with the much-awaited announcement of winners:
First Prize (₹5,000) – Team from Lala Lajpat Rai College
Second Prize (₹3,000) – Team from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce
Third Prize (₹2,000) – Team from SIES (Sion)
The winners were felicitated with trophies and certificates by Principal Dr Koel Roy Choudhury and Dr Priyanka Mohan, Head of Department, Accountancy and other department Faculties
