Distinguished Dignitaries Attend the Inaugural Ceremony

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Nida Fatima, Additional Pro-Chancellor, Integral University and Executive Director, ISF-CIED; Prof. (Dr.) Mohd. Haris Siddiqui, Registrar, Integral University; Prof. Abdul Rahman Khan, Controller of Examinations; Prof. Syed Aqeel Ahmad, Director, HRDC and Head, Department of Civil Engineering; Dr. Mohammad Atif Siddiqui, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering; and Dr. Noor Alam Khan, Incubation Manager, ISF-CIED and President, Institution’s Innovation Council, Integral University.

The programme also brought together an accomplished panel of entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts, including Ms. Poonam K. Khandelwal, Venture Catalysts++ and Angel Investor; Mr. Harshit Desai, Design, Experience & Digital Executive and three-time Co-Founder; Ms. Simran Sahni, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, Keeros Foods Pvt. Ltd.; and Mr. Harshvardhan Zaveri, Co-Founder and CEO, Orbit Wallet.Their diverse experience in entrepreneurship, technology, design, innovation and leadership added significant value to the event.

Ceremonial Lamp Lighting Marks the Beginning

Following the felicitation of the dignitaries and panelists, the event officially commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting. Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) Mohd. Haris Siddiqui, Registrar, Integral University, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided to students to showcase their ideas. He encouraged young innovators to move beyond ideation and work towards developing their concepts into meaningful and scalable ventures.

Dr. Nida Fatima, Additional Pro-Chancellor, Integral University and Executive Director, ISF-CIED, spoke about the importance of entrepreneurship and incubation in converting innovative ideas into impactful ventures. She also highlighted the ecosystem required to support young innovators throughout their journey from an initial concept to entrepreneurship.

12 Student Teams Showcase Innovative Ideas

A major attraction of UPRISE 2026 was the idea pitching and prototype presentation session, in which 12 teams, comprising six members each, presented their innovative concepts before an expert panel.

The projects covered a wide range of emerging and socially relevant domains, including:

• Smart Automation
• MedTech, BioTech and HealthTech
• Agriculture and Rural Development
• Robotics and Drones
• Clean and Green Technology
• Renewable and Sustainable Energy
• Blockchain and Cybersecurity
• Transportation and Logistics
• Other emerging technology domains

The presentations provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate not only their technical concepts but also their understanding of real-world problems and potential entrepreneurial applications.

Team Innov8x Wins the Top Prize

After a detailed evaluation by the expert panel, Team Innov8x emerged as the winner of UPRISE 2026 and received a cash prize of ₹25,000.Team WunderBär secured the First Runner-Up position and was awarded ₹15,000, while Team MERIDIAN finished as the Second Runner-Up and received ₹10,000.All three winning teams were presented with trophies in recognition of their achievements.

Strengthening the Student Startup Ecosystem

UPRISE 2026 concluded on a successful note, highlighting the growing importance of innovation, entrepreneurship and industry engagement in higher education. The event reflected the shared objective of strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and providing students with opportunities to transform ideas into practical solutions.

Through ISF-CIED, Integral University continues to focus on mentorship, networking, incubation and support for innovators and early-stage ventures. The centre describes its mission as helping entrepreneurs and innovators transform ideas into sustainable and scalable businesses while contributing to economic and social development.

UPRISE 2026 further strengthened this vision by creating a common platform where students, mentors, entrepreneurs and industry experts could interact, exchange ideas and explore new possibilities.The event ultimately reinforced the message that innovation becomes meaningful when ideas move beyond classrooms and prototypes to create solutions, enterprises and opportunities for society.