10 Startups Highlighted at ISF Pitch Fest-2024

Hyderabad: The International Startup Foundation, a prominent not-for-profit organisation supporting the growth and development of the startup ecosystem, co-powered by NTT Data hosts the International Startup Festival (ISF) 2024. Themed ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the AI Era’ witnessed extensive deliberations about the startup ecosystem, at Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI), Gachibowli. ISF 2024 is a unique platform for startup founders to connect with peers and investors, collaborate on innovative projects, and outline a growth path for their ventures.

The most awaited segment of the International Start-up Summit was the ‘ISF Pitchfest’. More than 53,000 startups registered for the pitch fest. After multiple rounds of rigorous screening over 6 months only 50 startups got the opportunity to make the final pitch in front of the Jury. The Jury was from diverse domains including Consumer/ Fintech, Agri / Food Tech, Deep-Tech, Edu / HR Tech and Health Tech. After thorough evaluation the names of the top 10 startups were announced at ISF 2024. These Startups will receive intensive mentoring by International Startup Foundation with support for funding and market access.

The Details of the top 10 startups from ISF Pitch Fest 2024 :

1. Waterfall Automation -- Agri / Food

2. Planytics -- Health-Tech

3. iGowise Mobility -- Deep-Tech

4. Dr.AtHome -- Health-Tech

5. 6Degree -- Consumer / Fin - Tech

6. Kode Blue -- Health-Tech

7. TEN -- Health-Tech

8. Qik Office -- Ed-Tech / HR-Tech

9. Sirixo -- Consumer / Fin - Tech

10. TIEA Connectors -- Deep-Tech

The Round tables on Fintech and Agri Tech focused on the opportunities and challenges for startups in these domains and the need to find innovative solutions to the problems faced, keeping in mind the needs and aspirations of 1.4 bn population of the country. The CXO Roundtable emphasized the need to build an ecosystem of nurturing job creators rather than just creating jobs to help the future requirements of the country. Junicorn Round table discussed the various aspects to be considered to develop the problem-solving mindset in the next generation and the ecosystem required to nurture their innovative ideas.

According to Dr JA Chowdary, Chairperson & Convener of the International Startup Foundation, “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 Rs250 crore out of which Rs50 crore 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 International Startup Foundation. I congratulate the top 10 most promising startups who will receive an intensive mentoring and support from ISF.”

The Plenary session was attended by Uttam Kumar Reddy, Minister for Irrigation & CAD; Food & Civil Supplies, Govt of Telangana in the presence of Mr. M Bharat, MP, Srinivasa Balaji Reddy, ED, Vamsiram Builders & Developers, Dr JA Chowdary, Founder Chairman, International Startup Foundation, where the luminaries encouraging the innovation mindset and supporting the startup ecosystem were recognized for the contribution.