The Future of Innovation Has a Goan Voice

Debarati Chakraborty
Jul 22
4 min read

What happens when Goa’s brightest minds take on problems the world is still struggling to solve? At the TEDxPanaji Innovation Hub 2025 Pitching Contest, we got a glimpse of the answer.

Welcome to the seventh edition of xPress! This week, we bring you highlights from TEDxPanaji Innovation Hub 2025 Pitching Contest. Held on June 26, the event brought together 12 exceptional changemakers, each presenting a homegrown solution to a real-world challenge.

From AI-era content visibility to rural diagnostics, from discreet safety tools to hyperlocal social networks, every idea reflected the pulse of Goa’s innovation ecosystem and the spirit of TED: ideas worth spreading.

Where big problems meet brave ideas

This year, the TEDxPanaji Innovation Hub set out with a clear mission: to discover and spotlight purpose-driven innovation born right here in Goa.

The contest drew applications from across the state—each one rooted in bold thinking and local insight. Finalists were selected for their originality, real-world relevance and potential for meaningful impact.

From working prototypes to disruptive ideas still taking shape, every pitch offered a glimpse into a future being built with clarity, courage and conviction.

Where do Goa’s brightest ideas go to be seen? This contest was our answer.

12 pitches. 10 minutes. 1 purpose.

Meet the 12 innovators who took the TEDxPanaji stage with purpose-driven solutions to real-world challenges. From AI tools and social tech to diagnostics and safety innovations, these 10-minute pitches weren’t just ideas, they were bold answers to the questions our world is asking.

I) GatherX

A platform that connects large-scale event organisers with trained student volunteers, streamlining recruitment, training and real-time coordination.

II) Death by AQI

An interactive tool that visualises the connection between an area’s air quality and its real estate value, highlighting how pollution directly affects the quality of life.

III) EnGenius AI

A Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) platform designed to help content creators stay visible in AI-powered search summaries and answer engines.

IV) AI Baby Monitor

A smart baby monitoring system using AI and automation to track sleep, vitals, crying and environment, offering peace of mind to new parents.

V) Silent SOS

A discreet emergency alert system that allows users to signal distress through subtle phone gestures, with plans for wearable integration and law enforcement tie-ups.

VI) Rapid UTI Diagnosis

A point-of-care test that diagnoses UTIs in just six hours, offering a faster, more affordable solution to reduce antibiotic misuse.

VII) Avyott Talk

An AI-powered voice agent that provides human-like multilingual Tier-1 customer support, available 24/7, with plug-and-play ease.

VIII) No-Dust

A patent-pending dust capture system for cutting operations that removes 95% of airborne particles, protecting workers and boosting efficiency.

IX) Nova Hustlers

A student-led community platform offering peer mentorship, curated upskilling and recruiter access, empowering college students across India and beyond.

X) WebpageBuildr

An AI-based no-code website builder that empowers individuals and small businesses to create professional web pages without tech skills.

XI) SkyPulse Innovations

A drone-tech venture using AI and aerial automation to transform safety and efficiency in industries like oil, mining and petrochemicals.

XII) Gelo

A social networking ecosystem focused on authenticity, behaviour-first discovery and hyperlocal engagement, designed to foster real, meaningful connections.

Kashif Shaikh, Mangirish Salelkar & Shawn Kenneth Fernandes (l-r)

Meet the jury: Experts who listen, question & guide

A panel of seasoned industry experts brought depth, direction and discernment to every pitch.

Kashif Shaikh – Co-Founder & COO, BIZ Nest
Mangirish Salelkar – Co-Founder & CEO, UMANG Group
Shawn Kenneth Fernandes – Founder & CEO, Fluxatic™ Global

With deep roots in technology, startups, creative industries and community building, the jury didn’t just evaluate, they questioned, mentored and helped shape the future trajectory of these 12 bold ideas. Their insights were instrumental in pushing each innovator to think bigger, sharper and more impactfully.

Beyond the pitch: What comes next

TEDxPanaji's Innovation Hub 2025 Pitching Contest was never meant to be a one-day show.

As Project Director Pawan Sharma shared: “We envision this becoming a full-day innovation expo, with startup booths, investor panels, mentorship zones and real-world opportunities. This is about building something bigger.”

And that’s exactly what TEDxPanaji does best—create moments that ripple into movements.

The movement has just begun

Goa has no dearth of young, first-time founders or seasoned engineers! From grassroots health hacks to futuristic AI, this event was proof that innovation isn’t always about big cities or big funding. Sometimes, it starts with a simple question, a stubborn problem and a local spark.

Ravi Kambhoj, Organiser, TEDxPanaji explains: “What began as a simple idea last year—to create a space for a handful of Goan innovators—has now evolved into a full-fledged platform celebrating and amplifying Goa’s spirit of innovation under the TEDxPanaji umbrella. The Innovation Hub stands as a testament to what happens when ideas meet opportunity, and we’re proud to help bring these stories to the world.”

The Innovation Hub 2025 Pitching Contest was a declaration that Goa is brimming with talent, ideas and purpose.

They set the tone & kept the spark alive

Meet the hosts of TEDxPanaji's Innovation Hub 2025 Pitching Contest

Stedwick Fernandes: Leader, Trainer and Corporate Host

Diya Padiyar: Content Creator & Social Media Executive, TEDxPanaji

Our partners for Innovation Hub 2025 Pitching Contest

BIZ Nest Goa
Radical Technologies
Fluxatic™ Global
Lila Creations
Creator Studio Goa
Festivalists
9 Digits

Held at BIZ Nest Goa – Co-Working, Workations & Meeting Rooms, the TEDxPanaji Innovation Hub Pitching Contest was more than a showcase of ideas. It was a bold statement that Goa’s innovators are ready to shape the future with solutions rooted in local insight, purpose-driven creativity and a spirit of fearless problem-solving. This event marked Goa’s emergence as a vital voice in the global innovation landscape.

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That’s a wrap on Edition #7.

We are thrilled to be bringing you these updates each week. See you next week!

Curated by: Debarati Chakraborty, Communications & Media Strategist, TEDxPanaji and Diya Padiyar, Content Creator & Social Media Executive, TEDxPanaji