What do saffron grown without soil, an AI tool that reads legal contracts and a meal that heats itself have in common? All three were pitched at Bharat Pitchathon 5.0, hosted by Shoolini University in Solan.
Ten startups pitched, including five incubated by Shoolini Pehal Foundation (SPF). An independent expert panel shortlisted 13 from 40 applications across Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Shoolini was the Venue and Knowledge Partner, while SPF was the Incubation Partner.
Could the next global technology giant emerge from Himachal Pradesh? Gautham Sivaramakrishnan, Vice President, Platform, at Blume Ventures and Director at Headstart Network Foundation, believed it could. He cited GreyOrange and space technology startup Pixxel as companies that grew out of university campuses. He suggested the next Apple could emerge from Himachal if founders dream big and build without waiting for outside support.
Organised by Headstart Network Foundation, the initiative connects founders with investors and mentors. Its first four editions received over 4,000 applications, and over 30 participating startups raised over ₹100 crore.
Opening the event, Prof PK Khosla, Chancellor of Shoolini University, encouraged founders to back ambitious ideas with planning, hard work and persistence. Pro Chancellor Prof Vishal Anand explained what the campus could offer. “Founders need room to try, fail and try again. Shoolini’s startup ecosystem gives students and startups access to faculty mentors, labs, and peers to test their ideas while keeping the cost of failure low. Not every idea will become a company. Our vision is to help students learn from each attempt and keep going.”
Finding a Route to the Market
Associate Professor Meenu Thakur presented NaturaCell, a research-stage material being developed for burns and chronic wounds. It combines bacterial cellulose, hemp seed extract and silver nanoparticles. Clinical validation is its next milestone.
Shoolini University Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla called for stronger industry–academia partnerships to commercialise research. Discussing the university’s work on antimicrobial resistance, he referred to a molecule that, he said, could improve antibiotic efficacy by 16 to 20 times. “We can create unicorns, and VCs can really help,” he said. His appeal to investors was direct: “Take risk on Bharat.”
Shoolini Saffron grows saffron indoors through aeroponics without soil and plans to turn agricultural waste into extracts and biodegradable packaging. Stoxfarm uses AI to connect farmers with buyers through quality assessments, live bidding and digital procurement.
LexiSummarize Technologies presented an AI platform designed to identify risky clauses in contracts under Indian law. Shoolini University President (AI and Innovation) Prof Ashish Khosla discussed AI in biotechnology and drug discovery, and prospects in green energy, healthy ageing and cancer research.
Products for Everyday Problems
Citpeels Naturals showcased citrus-based cleaners, while Everlasting Virtue presented CRUX, a cream-based detergent. According to its team, CRUX requires 10–20 grams per wash against 60–120 grams of conventional detergent and could remove dirt in one minute.
PANEVO, incubated at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), aims to offer pre-flavoured paneer as a convenient protein product. FreshBite presented self-heating meals requiring neither gas nor electricity, with potential uses in disaster relief. Euroomart enables orders from multiple neighbourhood shops in one transaction, while CLIXI is developing mobility and logistics solutions for Himalayan towns.
The jury, including investors associated with Blume Ventures and TiE Chandigarh, assessed customer acquisition, pricing, product differentiation and scalability, and gave feedback on business models and growth strategies. Prof Ashoo Khosla, Chief Learning Officer at Shoolini University, urged founders to measure success by the problems they solve rather than the funding they raise. She also encouraged students to stay creative and develop interests beyond their subjects.
The fifth edition will cover over 20 cities. Regional scores will go to Headstart Network Foundation’s central expert team. Growth Programme selections will be announced by the end of November, with support beginning in January. In December, 12 to 15 startups will be shortlisted to pitch at the Frontier Tech Summit in Bengaluru. Gautham Sivaramakrishnan also expressed interest in returning with Bengaluru innovators for ‘Hacking in the Hills’.
A Market Beyond the Campus
Pines Mandi, a student-led marketplace under SPF, gave students another way to test their ideas. Students, local artisans and independent sellers showcased homemade pickles, crochet flowers, soft toys, handmade anklets, scented candles and anime-inspired paintings. One student displayed a self-written novel.
Students gained practical experience in pricing, marketing and customer engagement. Sourabh Goyal of Successbrew offered to connect them with his business community for Diwali and New Year corporate gifting. He suggested that demand for crochet products alone could reach 8,000 pieces.