Beyond The Pitch- Meet & Greet

The main idea behind “Beyond the Pitch” was to create a platform where startups could openly share their real journeys. Instead of focusing only on pitches, the event highlighted the actual experiences of founders—their successes, challenges, and key learnings. It encouraged open conversations, allowing participants to ask questions, share doubts, and learn from one another in a practical and relatable way.

PDEU IIC incubated around 10+ startups during 2024–25, and supported them in multiple ways such as mentorship, guidance through various government schemes, and access to incubation resources. Out of these, 03 startups that have done remarkable work and were also invited to present their journeys. This gave other founders a chance to learn from real examples and better understand early-stage growth.

Another important goal was to help startups gain clarity and practical solutions through feedback and shared insights. At the same time, the event also aimed to strengthen the startup ecosystem at PDEU by building connections among founders. It served as a bridge between startups and the support systems available at PDEU IIC, opening doors for mentorship, collaboration, and networking opportunities.

Beyond the Pitch- Startups Presented:

1. Startup Name: Avinya Leather Private Limited

Founder/s: Manan Vyas, Jenil Gandhi

Avinya is a material innovation startup developing sustainable and vegan leather alternatives. It focuses on eco-friendly coated fabrics for industries like fashion, footwear, and automotive. With early revenue, strong customer interest, and plans for a manufacturing facility in Gujarat, the startup is working towards scalable and sustainable material solutions.

2. Startup Name: Streefi Private Limited

Founder/s:Dhairy Patel, Nisarg Patel, Indrajeet Patel 

Streefi is a tech platform aimed at organizing India’s street food sector by connecting vendors with customers digitally. It helps vendors improve visibility and business operations while enhancing customer discovery. Starting with a pilot, the startup has scaled to hundreds of vendors, showing strong growth, market validation, and user engagement.

3. Startup Name: Print&Go 

Founder/s:Jishnu Thacker, Rikin Parekh, Jayesh Gautam, Devesh Kotak, Om Ahuja

Print&Go offers a 24×7 self-service printing solution through smart vending machines. Users can upload documents, pay, and print instantly, solving issues like queues and privacy concerns. With a validated prototype and upcoming campus pilot, the startup aims to expand across universities and corporate spaces.

SESSION BY THE DIRECTOR:

The event also featured an insightful session by Shri. Abhinav Kapadia, Director-  PDEU IIC, where he shared the journey and growth of the incubation centre. He highlighted how PDEU IIC  has evolved into a strong platform for supporting startups and fostering innovation. He spoke about key achievements including an H-index of over 100, 128 published patents (with 44 granted), and strong funding support of over ₹60 crore from leading organizations.

He also discussed the progress during 2025–26, highlighting growth in funding, startup support, and innovation outcomes. With 115+  DPIIT-recognized startups, increased venture growth, and more patents being commercialized, PDEU IIC continues to create significant impact. The centre’s recognition among the Top 50 in Innovation in NIRF 2025 further reflects its progress.

Additionally, he shared that PDEU IIC has signed multiple MoUs with organizations such as GLPC, House of Starts, CCI India, and the Wadhwani Foundation to strengthen the ecosystem. His session gave startups a clear understanding of how they can benefit from these initiatives and grow with the support of PDEU IIC.

“Beyond the Pitch” turned out to be a meaningful and engaging experience for the startups involved. It successfully created a space where startups could move beyond formal presentations and engage in real conversations. The event helped founders gain practical insights, learn from each other, and receive valuable feedback on their ideas. The participation of startups added diversity and depth to the discussions. Additionally, the session by the Director gave clarity on the support available and future opportunities through PDEU IIC. Overall, the event reflected PDEU IIC’s continuous efforts to build a strong startup ecosystem by supporting, guiding, and empowering entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

❖ Audience: 20