The 9th edition of Maker Mela, powered by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, concluded successfully on Wednesday, 14th February 2024. As a premier event for grassroots innovators worldwide, the 3-day event attracted the participation of over 100 innovative minds from across the globe. The event, an initiative of Somaiya Trust and Somaiya Vidyavihar University, organized by riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar (Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory) accelerates the maker movement in India, aligning with the New Education Policy and supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.
A pitching session was conducted wherein shortlisted makers received an opportunity to present their ground-breaking innovations in front of a panel of renowned entrepreneurs, government dignitaries and investors including Dharmil Sheth, Co-Founder, PharmEasy ; Siddharth Somaiya, Angel Investor & Co-Chairman, Startups & Innovation Committee, IMC Chamber of Commerce & Industry ; Shardul, Scientist-C, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India ; Mayank Potlapalli, Investment Analyst, JSW Ventures and several others.
The 10 shortlisted makers included:
1. ImmverseAI (https://immverse.ai/)
2. Tusk (https://mytusk.in/)
3. WatchOut Wearables (https://www.watchoutwearables.com/)
4. Creto (https://creto.co.in/)
5. GenZDealZ.ai (https://genzdealz.ai/)
6. Fuselage (https://fuselage.co.in/)
7. Alfaues Tech (https://alfaleus.in/)
8. Skitii (https://www.skitii.com/)
9. Avinya Infinity Solution (https://avinyainfinitysolutions.com/)
10. Stemtech Medical Devices (https://evascalpcooling.co.in/)
On the basis of jury evaluation and feedback, WatchOut Wearables by Abhishek Baheti and Noopur Baheti is rewarded as Maker of the Year at Maker Mela with prizes worth INR 1 Lakh.
Few of the other innovators from the shortlisted 10 included ImmverseAI, makers Anay & Abeer Ramakrishnan (aged 9 year) developed digital interactive avatars using GenAI, while another maker Raghuveer Surupa has developed Stemtech Medical Devices that is Asia’s First Scalp Cooling device to reduce hair loss problems during chemotherapy. They’ve recently secured an investment deal on Shark Tank India Season 3.
One of our collaborators, Paper Shaper, showcased eco-friendly cardboard creations such as cardboard furniture, idols of Gandhiji, and several others, highlighting maker culture through corrugated board solutions during the 3-day event.
ReDesign, the circular economy club at riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar commits to skill people in the Somaiya Vidyavihar campus with Upcycling workshops using diverse materials. In this 9th edition of Maker Mela, ReDesign collaborated with The Denim Project to upcycle denim into beautiful products. The enthusiasm and creativity displayed by the participants was infectious. The ReDesign team also created a beautiful cart to showcase various sustainability projects on campus.
Shri Samir Somaiya, Chancellor of Somaiya Vidyavihar University, emphasizes the power of collaboration and vision in creating innovative spaces. “From campus partnerships to government alliances and community engagement, our journey towards excellence is fueled by collective efforts. With a new 50 thousand square feet place of excellence on the horizon, we’re dreaming to shape tomorrow’s leaders and innovators, fostering creativity and collaboration every step of the way.”
Mr. Gaurang Shetty, Chief Innovation Catalyst at riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar, said, “The 9 years has been a journey of learning, sharing, and innovating. This Movement of makers is coming into its own. Yet, we have just begun to unlock the full potential of our collective creativity and impact.”
Over the past 8 editions, Maker Mela has welcomed projects from over 850 makers across 25 countries. Notably, 350 makers have been featured on the Maker Mela community platform makermela.com, attracting an impressive viewership of around 104,000 from over 105 countries, including 1000+ cities globally.
About Maker Mela:
Maker Mela is Asia’s Largest Platform for Makers and a premier event for grassroots innovators worldwide seeking a platform to showcase their projects to a broader audience. Maker Mela is an initiative of Somaiya Trust & Somaiya Vidyavihar University, organized by riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar, powered by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar is a Technology Business Incubator and Innovation Centre supported by the Department of Science & Technology; BIRAC, Govt of India & MSInS, Govt of Maharashtra. In the past, Maker Mela has received support from esteemed associations like Startup India, Skill India, NYCS, and UNESCO. The event hosts a community of over 10,000 innovators globally, with at least 100 teams showcasing their innovations annually.
About Somaiya Vidyavihar University:
Somaiya Vidyavihar, established in 1942, has been in education, health, social welfare and promotion of culture for three generations. Since 1959, Somaiya Vidyavihar has been in University Education and in 2019, Somaiya Vidyavihar University has been established as a self-financing university by an Act of the Maharashtra State Legislature. Somaiya Vidyavihar University has established itself as a leading educational institute across the globe. It is proudly the first private university in Mumbai. Keeping up with our education standards, we have opened an array of options for the students to choose from. The leaders of Somaiya Vidyavihar University have designed every aspect of the University with the demands of international education in mind. It is global in the reach of its ideas and universal in its service.
