Designed to mirror the real-world startup journey from idea to investor pitch, the Global Young Innovators Challenge 2026 invited teams of 3–4 learners to identify a real-world problem and develop an innovative, sustainable solution. The competition was structured across two rounds – a written idea submission followed by a live virtual pitch before an expert panel of judges, offering participants a rigorous and meaningful entrepreneurial experience that extended well beyond the classroom.

The challenge drew exceptional participation, with 42 schools registering across 12 cities in India and globally 700+ learners participating and 169 teams advancing to the final submission round. What stood out was not merely the scale of participation, but the dedication with which teams approached the brief, arriving at the finals with solutions that were researched, viable, and in several cases, genuinely ready to be taken further.

To lend academic rigour and mentorship depth to the initiative, JBCN International School partnered with SP Jain School of Global Management as its academic collaborator. The institute delivered masterclasses for registered participants, conducted finalist preparation sessions, and provided judging support for the live virtual pitch finals. The collaboration ensured that learners were exposed to the highest standards of entrepreneurial thinking and global business education.

The winning team, Project Zenitech from Reliance Foundation School, was awarded a fully funded place at the SP Jain Singapore Summer School, sponsored by SP Jain School of Global Management, covering programme fees and accommodation worth SGD 3,200. The first runner-up team, Project Sustain X from MVN School, and the second runner-up team, Project Change Trinity from JBCN International School, Borivali, received full fee waivers for the SP Jain Mumbai Summer School Programme.

Ms Debika Chatterjee, Director Principal, JBCN International School, Borivali, shared, “The Global Young Innovators Challenge 2026 reflects our belief that entrepreneurship is not a subject to be taught but a mindset to be cultivated. Watching learners from across India and globally translate real-world challenges into sustainable, future-ready solutions has been deeply inspiring. This initiative is a testament to the kind of experiential learning that JBCN International School has always stood for — one that prepares our learners not just for examinations but for life. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the SP Jain School of Global Management for lending their support and expertise for this initiative.”

Mr. Pratik Acharya, Head Outreach, of SP Jain School of Global Management, added, “The Global Young Innovators Challenge 2026 served as a dynamic platform for students to showcase original ideas and solution-oriented approaches to modern-day challenges. The event highlighted creativity, and collaborative spirit of young learners while providing them with meaningful guidance from experienced professionals and faculty members. Through this initiative, SP Jain School of Global Management and JBCN International School continue to create opportunities that inspire curiosity, confidence, and future-focused learning among students.”

JBCN International School remains steadfast in its vision to nurture globally minded, future-ready changemakers through meaningful experiential learning opportunities. The Global Young Innovators Challenge 2026 is one such expression of that vision and the beginning of what the institution envisions as a growing platform for young innovators across the world.

Mr. Vijay Talreja, Director – HABIT Foundation and Trustee, VES, welcomed the audience and stated that HABITia represents the core spirit and vision of the foundation. He highlighted HABITia as a dynamic platform where young minds, budding entrepreneurs, and early-stage founders come together to present their ideas, refine them through mentorship, and gain experiential learning that prepares them for real-world entrepreneurial journeys. The Chief Guest, Mr. R. Ramanan, Chair of the National Expert Advisory Council, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and former Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission and Additional Secretary at NITI Aayog, delivered a highly insightful keynote emphasizing the importance of platforms like the HABIT Foundation and its incubator in transforming curiosity into ideas, ideas into prototypes, and prototypes into scalable and impactful solutions. The Guest of Honour, Dr. Ramjee Pallela, Senior Consultant at ISBA and former Chief Operating Officer of AIC-CCMB, underscored the importance of research-backed entrepreneurship, strong mentorship, and ecosystem support in building scalable startups.

The inaugural session concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Jyoti Chandwani, Nodal Officer, HABIT Foundation and Professor, VESIM who reaffirmed the foundation’s long-term commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and providing sustained incubation support to promising student-led startups.

A key highlight of HABITia’ 25 was the panel discussion titled “BTS – Behind the Startup”, which focused on real-world startup challenges, founder mindset, scalability, technology-led growth, and the evolving role of venture capital in early-stage ventures. The panel featured Mr. Shantiprakash (SP) Motwani, former Managing Director, Accenture Technology, who highlighted that while technology has seen multiple waves, the current era is unprecedented due to the convergence of transformative technologies, data, exponential computing power, and innovative systems. Mr. Ranjeet Shetye, Venture Partner, YourNest Venture Capital, emphasized that curiosity, continuous learning, and the courage to challenge the status quo are essential leadership qualities for entrepreneurs. Mr. Zubin Kika, Executive Vice President – Technology and Digital, HDFC Bank, stated that while Generative AI and agentic AI are powerful tools for rapid prototyping and innovation, strong core concepts and engineering fundamentals remain critical for building scalable and sustainable businesses. Mr. Deepak Nihalani, Co-Founder at Snapwork Technologies and Epoch Technologies, shared insights on building technology-driven enterprises with a strong customer-first approach, emphasizing execution excellence, adaptability, and the importance of solving real business problems through scalable digital solutions. The session was moderated by Mr. Amit Rambhia, Managing Director, Panache DigiLife Ltd.

Following with the competition, Innovate to Incubate – The Startup Challenge, The judging panel comprised seasoned investors, incubator heads, and industry leaders, including Mr. Bhavesh Kothari- Chief Executive Officer, MSSU I-SPARK Foundation, Mr. Nikhil Gupta- Investor, Startup Accelerator & AIF Manager, Dr. Vijay Bijlani- Founder Director, SAO Foods, Mr. Jaideep Pawar- Founder Director & CEO, GRAMePAY, Mr. Alok Ranjan- CEO and Co-founder Tauran Advisors, Mr. Chintan Oza- Founder and Managing Partner, Anantam Ecosystems, and Mr. Abhimanyu Anil Londhe- Co–Founder, Abhi Incubation Fund. Out of 156 teams that applied, 64 advanced to the second round after initial screening. Following detailed pitch presentations in both online and offline formats, nine teams qualified for the final round, where seven teams pitched offline and two online.

The winners of the challenge were rewarded with attractive cash prizes along with exclusive incubation opportunities at the HABIT Foundation, complemented by certificates of achievement. Melacure Pvt. Ltd., a skincare innovation brand from Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, emerged as the winner. The first runner-up was Indiejeanous, a Mumbai-based sustainable upcycled denim brand, while the second runner-up position was secured by Maceazy – E-Kaathi, a solution empowering visually impaired individuals with confident mobility, developed by students from Chetana Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai.

HABITia’ 25 concluded on a high note, reinforcing Vivekanand Education Society’s commitment to nurturing student entrepreneurship and innovation. The conclave successfully created a vibrant ecosystem where ideas met mentorship, innovation met opportunity, and aspiring entrepreneurs took confident steps toward building impactful, future-ready startups.