Vadodara: ITM Vocational University, Vadodara, marked a significant achievement in its entrepreneurial journey with the participation of six student startup teams in Vibrant Startup 2026 – Ignite Your Vision: The Startup Summit Awaits, held on 3rd January 2026 at Hotel Grand Mercure, Surya Palace, Vadodara. The prestigious startup summit was organized by the Baroda Management Association (BMA) in association with Lions Clubs International and brought together innovators, investors, mentors, and industry leaders on a single platform.
Six student startup teams from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Vocational, Professional and Interdisciplinary Studies, and Faculty of Life, Health & Allied Sciences represented the university. Mr. Ketul Patel, a B.Tech Mechanical Engineering student, presented Transformable Modular Multi-Orientation Trolley for Versatile Material Handling, focusing on efficient and flexible industrial logistics solutions. Mr. Divyansh Thakur and Ms. Shalomi Parmar from Integrated Technology Mechatronics Engineering showcased innovative ideas titled Soft Robotics and Agro Rover for Pesticide Spraying, highlighting automation and smart agricultural practices.
Mr. Charmin Patel, a B.Tech Civil Engineering student, presented SATRANGI: Reviving Culture and Heritage with Paints from Waste and Natural Materials, emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendly construction materials. From the Faculty of Life, Health & Allied Sciences, Mr. Himanshu Bharwad, a B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry student, introduced Waste to Value: Pineapple Leaf Fibers for Sustainable Paper, while Ms. Priya Bariya from B.Sc. Microbiology presented EcoZyme: Bio Enzyme Cleaner from Kitchen Waste, addressing environmental conservation and waste management.
Vibrant Startup 2026 was conceptualized as a high-impact summit aimed at empowering early-stage innovators by providing opportunities to pitch ideas, validate business concepts, and explore incubation, mentorship, and funding avenues. The event featured structured pitching sessions where each student team presented their startup concept, highlighting the problem statement, innovation, feasibility, market potential, and scalability before an expert panel of investors, senior industry professionals, and startup mentors.
The pitching sessions were followed by in-depth interactive discussions, during which panel members offered valuable insights, constructive feedback, and strategic guidance. The presence of experienced professionals from BMA and Lions Clubs International significantly enriched the learning experience and provided students with real-world exposure to industry expectations and entrepreneurial challenges.
Dr. Anil Bisen, Pro-Vost, ITM Vocational University said, “Participation in Vibrant Startup 2026 provided our students with invaluable real-world exposure, helping them refine innovative ideas through expert mentorship and industry interaction while strengthening the university’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Participation in Vibrant Startup 2026 proved to be a milestone in strengthening the startup culture at ITM Vocational University. The event successfully bridged the gap between academia, industry, and investors, reinforcing the university’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship development, and incubation initiatives among students.
