KSUM’s Climathon Concludes with Rs 30 Lakh Prizes to 11 Startups

KOCHI:
Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) announced three nascent firms as winners of Climathon, honouring their innovative ideas and models that can be marketed to promote environmental conservation.

The November 26-27 event, which KSUM conducted in association with EY Global Delivery Services, carried prize money totalling Rs 30 lakh to eleven startups. Three top winners got Rs 5 lakh each, while seven others who finished second won Rs 2 lakh each. One company received special jury mention award of Rs 1 lakh.

Treetag emerged winner-1 for its web-based platform that features a wide variety of user profiles and sub-profiles enabling easy handling of afforestation projects. Designed to regularly track and update the health of trees regularly, the platform provides technological support to utilize land for afforestation by enabling tree-mapping manually as well as using drones and satellites.

Zewa Ecosystems became the second winner for its hybrid IoT-based waste management system that converts biodegradable waste into livestock feed by feeding maggots and using them as feed. The third winner was Vatsaa Energy, in recognition of its Vatsaa Power Roof as an integrated solar roof derived from bamboo. The leak-proof product reduces heat transfer through roof and is architecturally premium.

The runners-up comprised Speranza Plasti Crafts that makes toys, tiles and bricks from recycled plastics, Fuselage Innovations that instantly processes images collected using multispectral UAV to prepare maps required in the field and Teqard Labs for its ufarms.io which develops smart farming solutions focused on people and sustainability using the possibility of IoT, automation, AI and Agri-fintech, besides Qudrat which deals with disposable tableware made from paddy-crop residue. The other three firms were X BOSON for AI-based aeroponics indoor vegetable garden, VIR Naturals for Biodegradable tableware from agricultural waste (such as rice/wheat bran) and Lares.ai for its fully-managed AI forecasting platform driven by ‘multi-analytica’ for accurate prediction.

MYCROWB Your Eco Friend LLP won the special jury mention for its scientific method to convert hair-waste into plant growth-enhancer (packed in liquid as well as powder forms) and extract melanin from the hair waste.

The two-day Climathon at KSUM’s Technology Innovation Zone in Kalamassery saw 22 experts leading discussions on all but one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. Overall, the sessions pooled in 174 innovative ideas nationally. Inaugurated by Federal Bank Chairman C. Balagopal, the Climathon saw participation from KSUM Chief Executive Officer Anoop Ambika, EY India Location Leader Richard Antony and its Global Operations leader Mukul Pachisia, among others. EY GDS Leader (MENA, Japan & Wavespace) Koshy M. Mathew participated virtually in the closure ceremony and distributed the award to the top three winners.

KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.