February 5, New Delhi, India — In the presence of former Lt. Governor Dr. Kiran Bedi, ThinkStartup, IIT Delhi, and MEPSC (a Sector Skills Council under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India) announced Wednesday the launch of the College Youth Ideathon, which aims to be India’s premier innovation and entrepreneurship competition to ignite creativity & entrepreneurial spirit among the nation’s youth.

Technology, medical & biotech, geospatial intelligence, education, agriculture, BFSI, food & beverage, travel & tourism, and social impact are some of the ten major areas that are the focus of the College Youth Ideathon (CYI 2025), which emphasizes creative ideas and entrepreneurship.

Cultivating a “job-creator’s mindset” is the initiative’s main goal, encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and a proactive response to obstacles.

College students from any Indian university or autonomous institution, as well as instructors and mentors of college students, are eligible to participate in the multi-stage tournament, which will first be conducted online.

Teams of three to five students will participate, and on April 12th and 13th, 2025, there will be a grand finale. Through brainstorming, concept prototype, and pitching to the panel of experts, this approach enables students to investigate innovation and entrepreneurship.

According to Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council CEO Anil Kumar Pokhriyal, “College Youth Ideathon will be able to showcase students’ ideas, hone their critical thinking abilities, and make a significant contribution to the expansion of industries.”

He said, “At the Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council, we’re always dedicated to giving young people the chance to turn their ideas into meaningful solutions that will improve everyone’s future.”

“Giving students the proper platform to brainstorm, innovate, and carry out their ideas is essential as we navigate an era of rapid change and technological advancement,” stated Sameep Shastri, Chairman of the Indian Institute of Governance & Leadership, Co-Founder & President of the Confederation of Young Leaders, and Vice Chairman of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Through the development of future leaders and changemakers, this program will inspire creative thinking and support India’s development.

“When young minds are given the proper platform to explore, experiment, and execute their ideas, innovation thrives,” said Prof. Narayanan D. Kurur, Dean of Academics at IIT Delhi. The College Youth Ideathon 2025 is a wonderful fit with IIT Delhi’s objective to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and provide them real-world experience via mentoring and internship programs.

“It is crucial to engage young minds early, channel their creativity, and inspire them to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship in order to create future job-creators,” said Shivani Singh-Kapoor, co-founder of ThinkStartup. The goal of the College Youth Ideathon is to empower the future generation by giving students a venue to turn their ideas into worthwhile endeavors.

Industry participants such as State Bank of India, India’s largest bank and Fortune 500 company; Esri India, India’s top provider of Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions; MediaTek, the world’s top fabless semiconductor company; IRCTC, a giant in travel, tourism, and ticketing; NMDC, a mining Navratna; and Infyni, a rising edtech star, are supporting the College Youth Ideathon 2025.

BRICS CCI, one of the other organizations sponsoring the event, will act as a potent catalyst for young innovators by giving them the tools, resources, and chances for collaboration they need to propel creative ideas.

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the primary financial institution for the promotion, financing, and development of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector; the Atal Innovation Mission, the Government of India’s flagship initiative to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the nation; and SheAtWork, a one-stop knowledge hub for women entrepreneurs, are also supporting Youth Ideathon.

Teachers, mentors, and schools with strong participation rates will get special recognition as the teams compete for a total prize of Rs. 25 lacs. Created in 2021 by ThinkStartup and MEPSC, Youth Ideathon is the biggest celebration of business ideas for schoolchildren in India.