From sustainable food to shoes, start-ups showcase innovation at TiECON Chandigarh

The administrator lauded the city’s emergence as a hub for IT-enabled industries, which has significantly contributed to job creation and economic expansion. “It is heartening to see Chandigarh evolving into a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. The IT sector’s growth here is not only driving business success but also generating employment opportunities in allied sectors,” he stated.

The day saw a host of start-ups pitching their ideas to venture capitalists who will later decide on whom they want to fund.

Pooja Bajaj, founder and CEO of Extra Mile, presented her vision for enhancing workplace engagement through creative strategies that boosted motivation and productivity. Santosh Srivastava and Ishaan Hukku’s Kisaan Se Kitchen Tak focused on sustainability, promoting chemical-free agro-produce while empowering rural women through self-help groups.

Ashish Sudhera’s Beat22.com, touted as India’s largest beats marketplace, provided musicians and producers a platform to buy, sell, and collaborate. In the real estate sector, Sanjeev Vasisht’s Propall leveraged AI to generate hyper-realistic 3D walkthroughs, transforming how professionals showcased properties.

Kamal Sharma and Pratik Das Gupta’s Shiplog targeted the booming D2C sector, offering efficient logistics solutions for brands. Isht Sethi’s Texas Smokehouse brought Texas-style smoked chicken to India, celebrating slow-cooked perfection.

Arjun Gupta’s Genetico offered specialised software solutions for genetic experts and labs, streamlining workflows and research. Meanwhile, Anuj and Anchal’s SHOEGR catered to footwear enthusiasts with premium shoe care products.

The Day 1 also saw a master class on ‘AI Unlocked: Masterclass on Artificial Intelligence’ by Senior Solution Specialist, Microsoft Anil Arora. AI is going to help drive equitable outcomes and that it can be a great leveller, Arora said while adding that greater trust and safety is the need of the hour in promoting AI accessibility to reduce digital divides.