SPJIMR strengthens India’s start-up ecosystem through the WISE Tech India Pitchathon

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) successfully concluded the WISE Tech India Pitchathon 2025, powered by the Sunil Bhatia Start-up Hub. The year-long programme culminated in a high-energy Grand Finale held on November 14 at SPJIMR’s Mumbai campus, bringing together innovators, investors, incubator heads, and corporate leaders to celebrate and strengthen India’s start-up ecosystem.

The Pitchathon drew over 700 start-up applications from across 16 editions and 12 cities— including Ambala, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hubbali, Mumbai, Raipur, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and the Northeast. From these, 35 exceptional start-ups progressed to the national round in Mumbai, culminating in a Finale where the top innovators showcased purpose-driven, high-impact solutions.

The event opened with an inspiring keynote by Sunil Bhatia, SPJIMR alumnus and former CEO of Infogain, who reminded founders of the mindset required to build ventures that endure: “Each of you has the potential to build a billion-dollar company. What matters is the conviction to dream boldly and the willingness to pay the price to make that dream real.”

In his keynote, Ashish Fafadia, Partner at Blume Ventures, cautioned founders against chasing market hype, emphasising execution and customer value: “Don’t get caught up chasing valuations. Build the business. Value ultimately comes from your customers — not from fundraising headlines. No matter how the ecosystem evolves, this fundamental truth will never change.”

Throughout the action-packed day, finalists delivered sharp, purpose-driven pitches rooted in clarity of vision, disciplined execution, and thoughtful innovation. A distinguished jury comprising Sunil Bhatia, Jatin Madhra (Blume Ventures), and SPJIMR Dean Varun Nagaraj evaluated the presentations and recognised founders who demonstrated both strong ideas and the capability to translate them into scalable, meaningful impact.

Following rigorous semi-final and final pitches, Pamawel (Healthtech), DentAtHome (Healthtech), and Glovatrix (AssisTech) emerged as  winners, recognised for their innovative and scalable solutions. They received ₹6 lakh in cash prizes, exclusive tech credits, and a direct entry into the WISE Tech Accelerator commencing January 2026.

Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR, congratulated the winners and said, “The WISE Tech India Pitchathon exemplifies SPJIMR’s commitment to ‘wise innovation’ — innovation that is not only smart but also responsible and inclusive. By empowering entrepreneurs who blend innovation with impact, we aim to nurture ventures that drive meaningful change, empower communities, and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.” 

As part of the Grand Finale, SPJIMR also hosted the Innovation and Growth Network for Incubators, Tech, and Enterprises (IGNITE), a closed-door forum for incubation managers and ecosystem leaders to facilitate peer learning, case discussions, and strategy workshops.

“India’s entrepreneurial energy is vibrant and widely distributed, from tier-1 cities to small innovation clusters. Through the WISE Tech India Pitchathon, we wanted to create an equitable platform that offers not just capital, but mentorship, visibility, and a supportive community for founders building meaningful solutions,” added Manoj Mohan, Executive Director, WISE Tech, SPJIMR.

Beyond funding and recognition, start-ups also benefited from the Product Strategy Clinic, a one-to-one engagement with analyst teams offering tailored recommendations for business growth and scalability — reinforcing SPJIMR WISE Tech’s commitment to nurturing purpose-driven innovation nationwide.

The Grand Finale closed the nationwide WISE Tech Pitchathon journey, reinforcing SPJIMR’s role in building a vibrant, wise innovation-led ecosystem that empowers founders, accelerates innovation, and supports enterprises that combine commercial scale with societal impact.