February Recap: AIC RAISE’s Exciting Events and Milestones
Driving Impact, Innovation & Sustainability
February was an action-packed month for AIC RAISE, filled with groundbreaking initiatives, insightful discussions, and impactful collaborations. From participating in global sustainability
conversations to supporting emerging startups through mentorship and funding, our journey this month has been nothing short of inspiring. Here’s a glimpse into our key highlights from February!
AIC RAISE at EnVision 2025 – Ground Zero for Net Zero
Our team AIC RAISE was honored to attend EnVision 2025 at IIT Madras Research Park, a transformative event focused on sustainability. Themed “Ground Zero For Net Zero,” the event
brought together some of the brightest minds in sustainability, energy transition, and climate
innovation.
We engaged in thought-provoking discussions, explored cutting-edge solutions, and connected with
industry leaders driving the net-zero revolution. It was an inspiring experience to witness how
innovation is shaping a greener future, and we are thrilled to be a part of this critical global
movement.
Climate Corridor driving sustainable innovation
The Climate Corridor Coimbatore edition at AIC RAISE successfully concluded with a day filled with
insightful discussions, networking, and knowledge sharing. With over 50 enthusiastic participants,
the event served as a hub for climate action, sustainable solutions, and innovation. The event
featured two engaging panel discussions, moderated by Mr. Mohan Kumar, Associate – Programs &
Partnership, AIC RAISE, and Mr. Vishnu Devadas, ESG Analyst, SOLiDPRO Group. Panelists included
Ms. Akshaya S, Sustainability Lead, Buyofuel, who discussed the current and future state of
biofuels; Mr. Vishnu Rajeev, Investment Principal, Speciale Invest, who highlighted climate-tech’s
role in India’s 2070 net-zero vision; and Mr. Hari Prasad, Founder & CEO, Beyond Sustainability, who
shared insights on carbon emission reduction and climate reporting.
The second panel included Mr. Thiruvenkateswaran Ramachandran, CEO, ClimeUp.ai, who
explored AI-driven decarbonization solutions; Dr. Selvakumar Rajendran, Professor & Head, Dept of
Nanobiotechnology, PSG IAS, who delved into nanotechnology innovations for emission reduction;
and Mr. Vishnu Devadas, who examined AI-driven energy efficiency. A special thanks to Ms. Preethi
Sivan, Sector Lead Climate Tech & Clean Energy, StartupTN, for her valuable contributions. The
event marked a significant step towards fostering climate-conscious entrepreneurship, and we look
forward to more such initiatives driving meaningful change.
Field Visit Spotlight: Golden Feathers
As part of our Catalyst for Impact Program, supported by IDFC FIRST Bank’s CSR division, our AVP,
Mr. Pradeep Raj, conducted a field visit to Golden Feathers, one of our promising incubated
startups.
Golden Feathers has been making waves with its innovative, impact-driven solutions, and this visit
reinforced our commitment to hands-on mentorship, field insights, and strategic guidance to
accelerate their growth. We believe in empowering startups with real-world exposure, and this visit
was another step toward ensuring their success.
AIC RAISE Hosts Meity Startup Hub CEO – A Thrilling Visit!
We had the honor of hosting Mr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO of Meity Startup Hub, and his
team at AIC RAISE.
During his visit, he interacted with our startups, providing them with invaluable insights and
mentorship. In a landmark moment, he also launched GAME XELERATE, an exciting 24-hour gaming
hackathon designed to fuel innovation in the gaming ecosystem.
Adding to the excitement, Mr. Madanagopal awarded our RAISE Seed Fund to Namaha, a
groundbreaking spiritual tech startup incubated at AIC RAISE. This milestone will empower Namaha
to scale its vision and create a meaningful impact.
Catalyst for Impact: Supporting Sustainable Startups
Our Catalyst for Impact Program, in collaboration with IDFC FIRST Bank’s CSR division, continued to
strengthen impactful startups this month.
Mr. Dinu Anand R, Associate Lead at AIC RAISE recently visited Raheja Solar Food Processing, a
startup pioneering sustainable food processing solutions.
These visits highlight our unwavering commitment to fostering startups that prioritize sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, ensuring a greener future for all.
FDP & Institution Incubation Fund Event – A Knowledge-Packed Initiative!
This month, under the IEDC i-Hub initiative, we hosted an enlightening session focused on
strengthening institutional incubation efforts. Experts shared valuable insights, with Mr. Pradeep
Raj, AVP – Incubation & Operations, leading a session on “Cracking Government Grants” and Dr. S. P.
Suriyaraj, AVP – Strategic Grants and Proposals, guiding participants on “Drafting Winning
Proposals.”
Attendees also engaged with startups from the IEDC i-Hub program, gaining firsthand experience in
innovation and entrepreneurship. Committed to bridging academia with the startup ecosystem, we
continue fostering meaningful collaborations that drive impactful growth.
Maker’s Arena – A Two-Day Innovation Marathon!
The Maker’s Arena was an electrifying two-day hackathon that brought together brilliant minds to
solve real-world challenges through innovation and creativity. The event kicked off with an inspiring
keynote by Manan Vyas, Senior Director at Sikich India, setting the stage for intense brainstorming
and problem-solving. Participants enthusiastically tackled challenges such as Repair & Reimagine
and Sustainable Survivors, pushing their creative limits to develop groundbreaking solutions.
Day two saw an escalation in excitement with new challenges like Mid-Way Makers and Market
Makers, where teams refined their ideas and business models.
The final evaluation was a high-stakes moment as startups pitched their innovative solutions to a
distinguished panel of judges for validation. The event concluded on a high note with a grand prize
distribution ceremony, recognizing the most promising ideas and fostering invaluable networking
opportunities. A huge shoutout to all our mentors and jury members who played a pivotal role in making the
Maker’s Arena a resounding success!
Looking Ahead…
As we step into 2025, AIC RAISE remains dedicated to empowering startups, driving new initiatives,
and expanding our network of changemakers. With exciting programs, funding opportunities, and
collaborations ahead, we are eager to make this year a remarkable one for growth and innovation. Stay connected with us on social media (Click here), and for any inquiries, reach out at
hello@aicraise.com. The journey continues, and we can’t wait to share what’s next!
