Hyderabad’s growing startup ecosystem received a fresh pipeline of campus-led innovation this week as the Cyient Foundation, in collaboration with ICT Academy, concluded Pitch Fest 2026 — a structured entrepreneurship programme engaging engineering students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The initiative drew participation from over 2,000 students across 40 engineering institutions, underscoring rising interest in entrepreneurship among Tier I and Tier II college clusters. The programme culminated in a competitive showcase where shortlisted student teams presented refined business concepts before an industry jury in Hyderabad.Organisers said 105 ideas advanced through a multi-stage evaluation process, receiving structured feedback from industry mentors. The proposals spanned diverse sectors, including agricultural mechanisation, solar energy optimisation, digital learning continuity platforms and creative community enterprises such as art cafés designed to support local artisans and performers.
Over several months, participants underwent workshops on business modelling, financial planning, market validation and pitching skills. Mentorship sessions focused on helping students transition from ideation to structured venture design — a gap that often limits early-stage campus startups from scaling beyond prototypes.Five teams were selected as winners after final presentations and assessment of technical feasibility, commercial viability and potential social impact. The winning institutions included MLR Institute of Technology, CMR Institute of Technology, ACE Engineering College and two teams from KG Reddy College of Engineering. Each team received seed grants intended to support early validation or pilot implementation.
Industry observers note that structured campus entrepreneurship programmes are becoming increasingly important as India seeks to broaden its startup base beyond metropolitan incubators. Hyderabad, already home to major technology firms and global capability centres, has been expanding its innovation infrastructure through incubators, accelerators and university-linked research hubs.Corporate foundations are playing a growing role in this ecosystem by bridging academia and industry. By combining mentorship with exposure to investors and business leaders, such programmes help reduce the risk of first-generation founders abandoning viable ideas due to lack of support or networks.
From a broader urban perspective, student-led innovation contributes to economic diversification and job creation. Early-stage ventures in clean energy, agri-tech and education technology align with sustainability priorities while creating opportunities within regional markets.As Hyderabad positions itself as a technology and innovation corridor, initiatives like Pitch Fest 2026 illustrate how corporate-backed platforms can nurture entrepreneurial talent at source — building a pipeline of founders equipped to address real-world challenges with scalable, market-ready solutions.
Hyderabad Pitch Fest boosts campus innovation
