101 Student Teams Showcase AI, Climate Tech, and Healthcare Innovations at Young Technocrats 3.0 Startup Conclave at KCG College of Technology
KCG College of Technology successfully hosted Young Technocrats 3.0: Startup Conclave 2026, bringing together aspiring innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to showcase student-led startup ideas addressing real-world challenges.
The conclave saw participation from several student teams competing for a ₹1 lakh prize pool, with innovations spanning artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies, climate solutions, and drone systems. The winning projects included Generative AI & Intelligent Systems (Team ORDO AI) and Smart Healthcare & Wearable Tech by the BIO-SIP team.
Each participating team received ₹10,000 as a prize amount. In addition, the winners and runners-up received ₹7,500 along with pre-incubation support.
Organised by KCG Tech – IDEA Lab and the Project Development Cell, in association with the Wadhwani Foundation and the Institution’s Innovation Council, the conclave served as a platform for engineering students to transform academic ideas into viable startup solutions. The event also aligns with global priorities such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging students to develop innovations addressing critical societal and environmental challenges.
The conclave was inaugurated by G. Raja Singh Thangadurai, Director of the DRDO‑Industry‑Academia Ramanujan Centre of Excellence at Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The valedictory session was addressed by Senthil Kumar P, Head of ASEAN Market at Ashok Leyland.
The startup competition reflected emerging technology trends among young innovators. Of the participating teams:
- 39 teams presented ideas in Generative AI and Intelligent Systems
- 28 teams focused on Smart Healthcare and Wearable Technologies
- 25 teams developed solutions in Climate Tech and Carbon Solutions
- 9 teams explored Drone Technology and Autonomous Systems
Sharing his views on the initiative, Anand Jacob Verghese, Chairman of the Hindustan Group of Institutions said, “Bridging the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application is essential in today’s education ecosystem. Initiatives like Young Technocrats empower students to move beyond classroom learning and develop entrepreneurial thinking, enabling them to evolve from job seekers into potential job creators.”
Annie Jacob, Director of KCG College of Technology added, “The conclave is designed not just as a competition but as a learning experience that equips students with practical insights into the startup ecosystem. By interacting with industry leaders and entrepreneurs, students gain the business understanding required to build sustainable ventures.”
As part of the conclave, special sessions were organised to strengthen students’ entrepreneurial skills. The first session focused on the journey from “Campus to Company”, featuring insights from entrepreneurs including Agathya Selvakumar, Founder and CEO of FINNMIN, Sasikumar Chandran, Founder and CEO of Dtyle.AI and Sridharan Muralidharan, Co-Founder of Navasaarigai Silk Handloom, who shared their entrepreneurial journeys and lessons from building startups.
The second session, titled “Pitch Perfect,” explored investor expectations and startup funding strategies. Industry leaders including Kiran Koushik, Founder and CEO of Stellarix Space Pvt Ltd; Michael Arun, Investment Manager at Vidhai & Vaanam Accelerator; Arasi Arul, Founder and CEO of 60PlusGlobal and Baskaran, CEO of Arthi Industries, shared insights on building scalable ventures and attracting investors.
Through initiatives such as Young Technocrats, KCG College of Technology continues to strengthen its focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration. The institution has supported 12 student startups, facilitated 34 patents/innovations so far and partnered with few industry and government organizations to build a thriving innovation ecosystem for engineering students.
