National,20 April 2026: Thirty-two student teams from Classes 7 to 10, drawn from schools across the country, took the stage at IISc, Bengaluru for the Launchpad 2026 – the national finale of the Young Pioneers programme, co-developed by Cambridge University Press s Assessment and Get Set Learn, the future-skills startup backed by the Arvind Mafatlal Group.
The winning ideas were Plasmo Guard in the Beginner category, developed by students from Chirec International School, Hyderabad, and Steel Root in the Intermediate category from Laurel High Global School, Rajahmundry. Aervida (in the Beginners category) won from BVP Rabindranath School, Pune, and Coper (Intermediate) from Global City, Bengaluru, with teams presenting a diverse range of solutions addressing real-world challenges.
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- Other standout concepts recognised during the event included Sahaara (Beginner) from Chirec International School, Hyderabad, and AURA (Intermediate) from Dr SSNP School, Davangere, which received the Best Performance awards for the 2025-26 cycle.
- Additional honours highlighted creativity and innovation across teams, with LaundriCafe (Beginner) from PSSMER, Davangere, and Climawear (Intermediate) from Wisdom High International School, Nashik, winning the Future Brand Stars award for the most innovative brand names.
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The Emerging Innovator Award was presented to HeadSafe Pro (Beginner) from Billabong School, Pune, and MFC Labs (Intermediate) from Cambria International School, Nashik.
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- Global City, Bengaluru, was named School of the Year for its overall performance and engagement in the programme.
Each team had eight minutes – five to pitch, three to face the jury. The ideas ranged across technology, sustainability, inclusion, wellness, and community impact. The student pitches were assessed by a distinguished jury of entrepreneurs, educators, and industry specialists, including Dr. Pradeep Pendse, In-Charge Director s CTO, Weschool, and Swathy Rohit, Co-Founder s CEO, Health Basix, who closely examined each idea for feasibility, originality, and real-world application.
The skills they have built over this academic year – design thinking, market research, teamwork, and financial modelling – are key skills that universities, employers, and a rapidly evolving economy will demand of them in the years ahead.
Ashish Arora, Senior Vice President, Cambridge University Press s Assessment, said, “We are contributing to building Viksit Bharat from the classroom up, not just the boardroom down. When learners become creators and problem-solvers, learning becomes truly meaningful. At Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the Young Pioneers Programme, in partnership with Get Set Learn, is designed to nurture this approach: blending classroom learning with real-world application and empowering students to bring their ideas to life.”
Priyavrata Mafatlal, Co-founder at Get Set Learn and Vice Chairman, Arvind Mafatlal Group, said, “We often speak about building India’s future through industry, infrastructure, and investment. But the real foundation is laid far earlier in our classrooms, where young minds learn to think independently, solve meaningfully, and lead with conviction. Through Get Set Learn, our vision has been to nurture this mindset early and equip students with the confidence to create, question, and build. Young Pioneers Launchpad is not just a competition; it is a window into the calibre of leaders and innovators India is raising. If we invest in entrepreneurial thinking today, we will build not only successful individuals, but a stronger, more future-ready nation.”
Over months of preparation, students had worked in teams with mentors, refining their ideas through expert-led sessions and hands-on experiences. Supported by parents and embraced by schools as a step toward integrating future-ready skills.
Across three progressive levels, the Young Pioneers Programme develops skills that bridge the gap between school learning and the demands of higher education and professional life:
- Design thinking and structured problem-solving
- Market research, financial literacy, and business modelling
- Communication, storytelling, and the ability to handle critical questioning
- Collaboration, iteration, and resilience under feedback
- Entrepreneurial mindset: spotting opportunity, managing uncertainty, and taking initiative
Each of these is a capability that translates directly into readiness for academic environments and for careers that do not yet have names.
The Young Pioneers programme, developed for Classes 7 to 10 across all school boards, integrates coursebook learning with expert-led masterclasses and mentorship for hands-on entrepreneurial skills development that give students first-hand insights and lessons from the real world. Over three years, they will progress through Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced stages by focusing on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and engaging in masterclasses and mentorship from industry experts. Learners then get an opportunity to showcase their ideas to entrepreneurs and industry experts at the Launchpad.
Learn more at www.youngpioneers.in.
Notes to Editors About Get Set Learn:
Get Set Learn is a future-skills learning startup backed by the Arvind Mafatlal Group. Co-founded by Priyavrata Mafatlal and Ameet Zaverii, GSL is dedicated to preparing over 300 million K-12 students in India for a rapidly evolving world by equipping them with essential 21st-century skills through engaging, experiential learning platforms.
For more information, visit K12 Learning Solutions For School | K12 Learning Platform – Get Set Learn
