High School Innovators Shine at Global Pitch Competition

Young entrepreneurs from around the globe showcased groundbreaking ideas at the TiE Young Entrepreneurs Global Pitch Competition. The event, held across Virginia and Delhi-NCR, highlighted student-led startups tackling real-world problems with creative solutions.

Winning Ventures

The competition saw six teams emerge victorious from an array of 29 international finalists. These students presented their innovative startup concepts to a panel of judges. The winning ventures addressed issues like marine pollution and energy efficiency.

Kymavi, from Seattle, secured first place. They developed marine-biodegradable packaging that degrades in three to six months. This packaging releases additives to combat ocean acidification and support plankton growth. Second place went to Key Beauty, also from Seattle, a marketplace curating international beauty brands for diverse skin tones. OOMI from Rajasthan took third with a centralized cooling system to boost energy efficiency.

“We’re thrilled to win; it reflects eight months of hard work and growth,”

—Tayem Keshk, CEO of Kymavi

Arjun Panpaliya, Kymavi’s COO, added, “We spent countless hours building Kymavi from scratch. Seeing pollution in our home countries and even in our local lake pushed us to act. We wanted to create something that not only breaks down, but also helps the oceans and our environment — and that’s what Kymavi does.”

In 2023, the global biodegradable packaging market was valued at $15.7 billion (Statista). This reflects a growing interest in sustainable alternatives.

More Finalists

Other teams making it to the global finals included Syncora Wearables from Delhi-NCR, which designed a safety wearable. Also participating was Fibre Flow from Houston, which developed a sustainable water filtration system using natural materials. The Japa Store of Udaipur presented a postpartum nutrition plan.

Competition Overview

Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair of the TiE Global Board of Trustees, was inspired by the students’ creativity. He stated that their ideas and entrepreneurial spirit are a reminder that the next generation is already building solutions for future challenges.

Vijay Menon, TiE Global ED, said the student entrepreneurs were driven to find meaningful solutions. The TYE Global Pitch Competition is a culmination of weeks of mentoring and team-building. Regional winners advance to the global finals.

“I’m in the privileged position to witness the growth, maturity, and self-confidence that our young entrepreneurs experience,” said Adam Carter, TYE Program Director. He noted that it’s an excellent way to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Rahul Jain, a Senior Data Scientist with FedEx and a mentor, added that their futures are bright.

The event included alumni volunteers. Vrinda Heda, a TYE alumna, said the most valuable part of TYE is the tight-knit community. Over 125 parents, students, and entrepreneurs from North America attended the event.

Srini Bayireddy, President of TiE DC, highlighted education as core to TiE DC’s mission. He said they were grateful for their partnership with George Mason University.

The organizing team included Kavita Govindarajan, Venkat Veera, Art Stevens, Trushant Mehta, and Sumeet Luthra.