The International Start-up Foundation (ISF), a leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the startup ecosystem, co-powered by NTT Data, successfully hosted the International Startup Festival (ISF) 2024. The event, themed “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the AI Era,” took place at the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) in Gachibowli. It served as a vital platform for startup founders to connect with peers and investors, collaborate on innovative projects, and outline growth trajectories for their ventures.
One of the most anticipated segments of the festival was the ISF Pitch Fest, which attracted over 53,000 startups vying for a chance to showcase their ideas. After a rigorous screening process spanning six months, only 50 startups advanced to pitch before a jury comprised of experts from diverse sectors, including Consumer/Fintech, Agri/Food Tech, Deep-Tech, Edu/HR Tech, and Health Tech. Following thorough evaluations, the top 10 startups were announced, each set to receive intensive mentoring from the International Startup Foundation, along with support for funding and market access.
The Top 10 Startups from ISF Pitch Fest 2024:
Waterfall Automation — Agri/Food
Planytics — Health-Tech
iGowise Mobility — Deep-Tech
Dr. AtHome — Health-Tech
6Degree — Consumer/Fin-Tech
Kode Blue — Health-Tech
TEN — Health-Tech
Qik Office — Ed-Tech/HR-Tech
Sirixo — Consumer/Fin-Tech
TIEA Connectors — Deep-Tech
The festival also featured roundtable discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities within the fintech and agritech sectors. These discussions emphasized the necessity for innovative solutions tailored to the needs of India’s 1.4 billion population. A CXO roundtable highlighted the importance of fostering an ecosystem that nurtures job creators, rather than merely creating jobs. Meanwhile, the Junicorn roundtable explored how to cultivate a problem-solving mindset in the next generation and the ecosystem required to support innovative ideas.
Dr. J.A. Chowdary, Chairperson & Convener of the International Startup Foundation, stated, “We at ISF adopt a 3 M approach towards supporting the startups and prevent great ideas from extinction in ‘Startup Death Valley’. We focus on providing the right Mentoring to cultivate the idea and transform it into sustainable business. We provide funding (Money) to help sustain and grow the startup in early stages of their journey and support with Market Access in India and across the Globe to help make the idea reach the right beneficiaries. To support the early-stage startups, we set up ISF Angels and raised Rs. 250 Crores out of which Rs. 50 Crores is already deployed. We are positive that the balance will be deployed by this year end. We are delighted at the innovative ideas submitted at ISF Pitch Fest this year. Out of over 53,000 submissions we have identified 50 best solutions who pitched for the final round and will be considered for mentoring by the International Startup Foundation. I congratulate the top 10 most promising startups who will receive intensive mentoring and support from ISF.”
The plenary session was graced by notable figures, including Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Minister for Irrigation & CAD; Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Telangana, along with Mr. M Bharat, MP, and Mr. Srinivasa Balaji Reddy, Executive Director of Vamsiram Builders & Developers. The event celebrated the contributions of luminaries who foster an innovative mindset and support the startup ecosystem.