70 startups showcase innovations at GITAM Founders Summit

More than 70 startups from across the country showcased cutting-edge innovations at the Founders Summit 2026, organised by the GITAM Inclusive Technology Business Incubator (iTBI), supported by the Department of Science and Technology, on Tuesday.

The summit brought into focus emerging solutions across key sectors, including AI-enabled agriculture and aquaculture, women’s safety, cybersecurity, healthcare, and next-generation beverages. Startups presented their ideas before a jury of entrepreneurs and industry experts, who assessed them on innovation, scalability, and societal impact.

Prof. P. Bharani Chandra Kumar, Project Principal Investigator of GITAM iTBI, said the incubator is working to nurture early-stage ventures through structured mentorship, technical support, and industry linkages. He added that such initiatives are aimed at positioning Visakhapatnam as a major startup hub.

Dean of GITAM School of Business, Prof. Raja Pappu, said the university’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and industry collaboration is helping prepare entrepreneurs to meet real-world challenges.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Y. Gouthama Rao and Registrar Dr. D. Gunasekaran, who presented the awards, said startups are key drivers of economic growth and innovation, contributing to the vision of a self-reliant India.

In the Best Pitches category, Farm Vaidya AI Tech Pvt Ltd won the top prize, followed by Cryptopix (OPC) Pvt Ltd and Zenithzap Beverages Pvt Ltd.

In the Women and Social Impact category, Bharathi Photon Irrigation Systems Pvt Ltd secured the first place, while Sankara Neuro Devices and CtoSKYAI Pvt Ltd stood second and third, respectively.

The summit underscored the growing momentum of innovation-led entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on addressing societal challenges.