Future Unicorns Launchpad 2023: Connecting Dreams to Real-world Business Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship, especially among the youth, is the passion that India has been channeling in recent times and Future Unicorns Launchpad 2023 (FUL), a platform co-created by Get Set Learn and TiE Bangalore, further fuelled that spirit among school students. FUL 2023, which concluded in Bengaluru, provided an exclusive platform for students in grades 8-12 to present business ideas to established entrepreneurs and a notable jury comprising investors and founders. The opportunity fostered their entrepreneurial spirit and connected them with real-world business opportunities.

Over 15,000 students participated in a nationwide entrepreneurship quiz where 75 teams were selected from top schools in India for the business pitch round. They were guided and mentored by accomplished B-school graduates, successful entrepreneurs, and TiE Bangalore’s charter members. The platform helped them refine their ideas, offered invaluable insights, and prepared them for their startup business pitches in the final round.

With their innovative startup idea, ShockWear, Vidhaan Parmar, Aarav Gosrani, and Ambarish Thati—the students from Greenlawns School, Worli—won first place at the 2-day Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. The dynamic trio of Podar International School, Nerul, Atharva Moisendra Wala, Abhyudaya Sharma, and Ashad Ukaye, secured second place for their creative business idea, Bakhoor, a concentrated perfume brand. Young entrepreneurs from Sanjivani International School, Kharghar in Mumbai, Urvi Khadse, Pavani Mahendra, and Arjun Patil, secured third place with their incredible startup idea, NeuroBridge, a gamified learning platform for children on the spectrum.

The top three winning teams received cash prizes and a coveted trophy from Get Set Learn, TiE Bangalore subscription for one year with access to 300+ mentors, top entrepreneurs, and 200+ virtual and in-person workshops. At the end of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, the top 25 school teams visited STEM workshops conducted by Top Fortune 500 companies at their respective offices in Bengaluru. In the coming days, participating schools will also get an opportunity to set up entrepreneurship cells offered by Get Set Learn apart from additional fostering of ideas and mentorship from TiE Bangalore for students.

Talking about the innovative ideas presented by the young entrepreneurs at the 2-day bootcamp, Priyavrata Mafatlal, Founder of Get Set Learn and Vice Chairman of Arvind Mafatlal Group, encouraged students to embrace the challenges of entrepreneurship with passion and determination. “As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that challenges are opportunities in disguise. Embracing them with determination and a positive outlook is the key to not only surviving but thriving in the dynamic world of business. I am immensely proud to witness the future of our country in the hands of these talented young entrepreneurs. FUL has provided them with a platform to showcase their innovation, resilience, and determination. The passion and dedication they have exhibited are truly commendable,” he said.

As a new-age ed-tech startup, Get Set Learn’s vision is to provide young innovators with a roadmap that aims to create new possibilities for life-long learning, besides making it industry-oriented with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Ameet Zaveri, CEO and Co-founder of Get Set Learn said, “FUL is aligned to the goals of the NEP 2020 that encourage the development of key 21st-century skills. Our vision is to make it a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem and a collaborative framework that brings thousands of schools and students on a common platform that encourages innovation,” he said.

The 25 teams from schools all over India pitched their ideas before an esteemed jury including investors like Parag Dhol (General Partner – Athera Venture Partners), Rajiv Raghunandan (Managing Partner – Arali Ventures), Sandhya Vasudevan (Independent Director and Former MD – Deutsche Bank and Thomson Reuters), Priyavrata Mafatlal (Co-founder, Get Set Learn & Vice Chairman), Murlidhar Surya (CEO and Founder – Lodestar Career Guidance), and Dr. Pradeep Pendse (Incharge and Director for University Program and CTO – WeSchool).

Madan Padaki, President of TiE Bangalore, said, “The Future Unicorns Launchpad program embodies our mission of nurturing an entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. We are impressed by the dedication and ingenuity displayed by these young minds. Our hope is that this experience ignites a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship and empowers them to shape a transformative future.”

The diverse ideas showcased at the final round reflected the students’ creativity and understanding of market trends through groundbreaking and unconventional approaches. Irrespective of the nature of their ideas, all business pitches exhibited depth, thoroughness, and ingenuity, challenging the judging panel to select the top three. Students harnessed technology and exhibited their visionary approach to solving real-world challenges.

The event also saw the inspiring presence of Somdev Devvarman, Padma Shri awardee and ex-Indian tennis player. “FUL is like a shark-tank for young entrepreneurs, where they get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to validate their business plans with expertise and guidance from some of the biggest entrepreneurs in the country. I encourage all young entrepreneurs to follow the three lessons I carried with me in my sports career: be a good learner, become a problem-solver, and learn not to make excuses. This will ensure that your spirit to succeed finds the discipline and inspiration that it needs to turn your dreams into reality,” said Devvarman.

FUL AI Learning Partner, Corporate Gurukul’s Founder and Managing Director, Rajesh Panda, said, “We are immensely proud to witness the culmination of the Future Unicorns Launchpad, an extraordinary journey that engaged 15,000 aspiring student entrepreneurs. The dedication and innovation displayed by all participants were truly inspiring. As we celebrate the success of the 75 budding entrepreneurs who reached the final stage, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing the next generation of visionary leaders and trailblazers.”

Talking about Future Unicorns Launchpad, Pulkit Jain, Co-Founder and Product Head, Vedantu said, “What an absolute privilege since it allowed him to connect with a remarkable group of young minds.” He said, “As a co-founder of Vedantu, a platform committed to revolutionizing education, I have witnessed first-hand the transformative power of innovation and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business; it’s a mindset that values creativity, problem-solving, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. These students have the potential to drive positive change and make a lasting impact on the environment and humanity, and nurturing their entrepreneurial spirit is vital for a brighter future.

Kshitij Khandelwal, Founder & CTO, Pixxel said, “It was a pleasure to be a part of the Future Unicorns Launchpad and witness the innovations of brilliant student entrepreneurs. In the classrooms and labs of our academic institutions, a revolution is quietly unfolding. These student entrepreneurs are the architects of tomorrow, building a future that knows no bounds and holds a lot of promise. If we continue to nurture these students’ passion and ideas, we will pave the way for a new wave of Indian entrepreneurship — one that will transform our nation and leave a mark on the global stage.”