Prayaas, an initiative led by EPGP students at IIMB, hosts the Grand Finale of Youth Udyami on 08 February 2026
Team Mentorly wins Youth Udyami 2026 Grand Finale
Bengaluru, 08 February 2026: Prayaas, the social responsibility initiative led by students of IIM Bangalore’s Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), hosted the grand finale of Youth Udyami 2026 at IIM Bangalore today. The year-long entrepreneurship program brought together high school students from Classes 10 to 12 to develop and present real-world business solutions.
The jury for the grand finale comprised Mr. Debashish Chandel, Entrepreneur and EPGP alumnus 2015; Mr. Naman Pandey, Head of Investments, Nucleo; and Mr. Saketh Ramakrishna, Founder, Quick Alpha, and Co-founder, Optionables FinTech LLP. Mr. Debashish Chandel remarked that the students demonstrated confidence and maturity beyond their years, adding that, “By choosing to solve real-world problems at this age, every participant has already taken a meaningful first step in their entrepreneurial journey.”
Team Mentorly from Greenwood High International School, comprising Andrea Rosa Alen, Sanchi Jawaria, and Radhika Katti, emerged as the overall winner for presenting a well-structured digital mentorship platform that addresses gaps in academic and career guidance among students. The team demonstrated strong problem validation, a scalable delivery model, and a clear pathway for implementation through structured mentorship frameworks and expert engagement. Their solution stood out for combining social relevance with practical feasibility, reflecting a mature understanding of both user needs and long-term impact.
The Runner-Up title was awarded to Team BVM Global School, Bengaluru, represented by Ishaan Srivastava and R.S. Divya, for Vitabites, an innovative vitamin-infused chewing gum designed to improve daily nutrient intake through a convenient and accessible format. The team presented with a differentiated product concept, a clear consumer value proposition, and thoughtful consideration of market adoption and usability. Their approach demonstrated strong product positioning supported by a viable business rationale.
Prof. Amar Sapra, Chairperson, Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), Chair of Excellence, IIMB, in his welcome address, congratulated the finalists for their perseverance and progress through multiple evaluation stages. He highlighted that entrepreneurship is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Emphasizing the importance of flexibility, he noted that successful ventures evolve by refining products, responding to market realities, and learning from feedback. He also appreciated the Prayaas team and mentors for building a strong platform that nurtures young innovators.
Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson, Sustainability Taskforce at IIM Bangalore, commended the initiative and the relevance of student-led solutions addressing real societal challenges. She shared three principles for long-term success: pursuing work with passion and purpose, cultivating focus by managing distractions, and maintaining physical well-being. Connecting her message to the theme of Youth Udyami 2026, ‘Passion to Profit,’ she encouraged students to balance ambition with discipline and resilience.
Among the other finalists, Team Khwaish from National Public School, led by Jeya Malhotra, presented structured learning kits and digital support modules designed to enhance vocational learning for children with intellectual disabilities. Team PSBE from Presidency School, by Hariharan M, Aditya Walia, and Aradhya Roy, introduced an on-site food waste dehydrating system that reduces waste volume and enables safe, sustainable reuse.
Team LooVana from Podar International School, Kalkere, represented by Tanvi Khodanapur and Shravani S.H., proposed a solution focused on improving accessibility and hygiene in public washrooms. Team Bloom from National Public School, by Dhruv Mathur and Kavin Geofrey, presented an innovation-driven venture addressing contemporary youth and community needs through a structured business model.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Rajasilpi SP, EPGP ‘26, IIMB, recognizing faculty, mentors, judges, and student organizers who supported the program. A short video showcased Prayaas, a year-long social impact initiative led by EPGP students, highlighting community outreach efforts and student-led engagement across the program cycle. Through Youth Udyami 2026, Prayaas continues to nurture entrepreneurial thinking among young learners by enabling them to transform passion-driven ideas into practical and impactful ventures.
Prayaas, an initiative led by EPGP students at IIMB, hosts the Grand Finale of Youth Udyami on 08 February 2026
Team Mentorly wins Youth Udyami 2026 Grand Finale
Bengaluru, 08 February 2026: Prayaas, the social responsibility initiative led by students of IIM Bangalore’s Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), hosted the grand finale of Youth Udyami 2026 at IIM Bangalore today. The year-long entrepreneurship program brought together high school students from Classes 10 to 12 to develop and present real-world business solutions.
The jury for the grand finale comprised Mr. Debashish Chandel, Entrepreneur and EPGP alumnus 2015; Mr. Naman Pandey, Head of Investments, Nucleo; and Mr. Saketh Ramakrishna, Founder, Quick Alpha, and Co-founder, Optionables FinTech LLP. Mr. Debashish Chandel remarked that the students demonstrated confidence and maturity beyond their years, adding that, “By choosing to solve real-world problems at this age, every participant has already taken a meaningful first step in their entrepreneurial journey.”
Team Mentorly from Greenwood High International School, comprising Andrea Rosa Alen, Sanchi Jawaria, and Radhika Katti, emerged as the overall winner for presenting a well-structured digital mentorship platform that addresses gaps in academic and career guidance among students. The team demonstrated strong problem validation, a scalable delivery model, and a clear pathway for implementation through structured mentorship frameworks and expert engagement. Their solution stood out for combining social relevance with practical feasibility, reflecting a mature understanding of both user needs and long-term impact.
The Runner-Up title was awarded to Team BVM Global School, Bengaluru, represented by Ishaan Srivastava and R.S. Divya, for Vitabites, an innovative vitamin-infused chewing gum designed to improve daily nutrient intake through a convenient and accessible format. The team presented with a differentiated product concept, a clear consumer value proposition, and thoughtful consideration of market adoption and usability. Their approach demonstrated strong product positioning supported by a viable business rationale.
Prof. Amar Sapra, Chairperson, Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), Chair of Excellence, IIMB, in his welcome address, congratulated the finalists for their perseverance and progress through multiple evaluation stages. He highlighted that entrepreneurship is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Emphasizing the importance of flexibility, he noted that successful ventures evolve by refining products, responding to market realities, and learning from feedback. He also appreciated the Prayaas team and mentors for building a strong platform that nurtures young innovators.
Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson, Sustainability Taskforce at IIM Bangalore, commended the initiative and the relevance of student-led solutions addressing real societal challenges. She shared three principles for long-term success: pursuing work with passion and purpose, cultivating focus by managing distractions, and maintaining physical well-being. Connecting her message to the theme of Youth Udyami 2026, ‘Passion to Profit,’ she encouraged students to balance ambition with discipline and resilience.
Among the other finalists, Team Khwaish from National Public School, led by Jeya Malhotra, presented structured learning kits and digital support modules designed to enhance vocational learning for children with intellectual disabilities. Team PSBE from Presidency School, by Hariharan M, Aditya Walia, and Aradhya Roy, introduced an on-site food waste dehydrating system that reduces waste volume and enables safe, sustainable reuse.
Team LooVana from Podar International School, Kalkere, represented by Tanvi Khodanapur and Shravani S.H., proposed a solution focused on improving accessibility and hygiene in public washrooms. Team Bloom from National Public School, by Dhruv Mathur and Kavin Geofrey, presented an innovation-driven venture addressing contemporary youth and community needs through a structured business model.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Rajasilpi SP, EPGP ‘26, IIMB, recognizing faculty, mentors, judges, and student organizers who supported the program. A short video showcased Prayaas, a year-long social impact initiative led by EPGP students, highlighting community outreach efforts and student-led engagement across the program cycle. Through Youth Udyami 2026, Prayaas continues to nurture entrepreneurial thinking among young learners by enabling them to transform passion-driven ideas into practical and impactful ventures.