IIT Guwahati’s E-Cell Concludes 17th Annual Entrepreneurial Summit: UDGAM’25

The Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Guwahati hosted the 17th edition of its flagship Annual Entrepreneurship Summit, UDGAM’25: Expedition to Excellence, from January 17 to 19, 2025. Sponsored by NEBULA and partnered with CtrlS Datacentre, UBON, IndianOil Corp Ltd, and GPlus, the summit highlighted innovation, collaboration, and inspiration, stating its commitment to fostering entrepreneurial spirit in Northeast India.

Key Highlights of UDGAM’25

1. Startup Expo:
   Collaborating with Assam Startup and BIRAC, the expo showcased innovations from over 60 startups, connecting them with 15+ investors and potential customers.
    
2. Sparkle:
   A school-level pitching competition with 6,000+ registrations culminated in 20 finalists competing for awards, fostering entrepreneurial ambitions among young minds.
    
3. Disrupt:
   Northeast’s largest startup boot camp mentored startups for four months. During UDGAM, 11 finalists pitched their ventures to investors, receiving critical feedback and opportunities.
    
4. PMx and Competitions:
    
   • PMx: India’s largest product case study competition, presented by Zomato, attracted 3,000+ participants from 15+ countries.
   • Other contests included Encode-AI (business hackathon), DFrame (design hackathon), and the Equity Research Challenge, all generating significant enthusiasm.
5. Internfair:
   Featuring 60+ companies offering internships across 150+ roles with stipends up to ₹40,000, Internfair continued to connect students with valuable career opportunities.
    
6. Grids and Gaps:
   A design panel featuring industry leaders such as Amlendu Kaushik (Co-founder, Studio Zeng) and Anudeep Ayyagi (Ex-UX Designer, Amazon).
    
7. Chai Pe Charcha:
   Alumni shared success stories, including Aman Gupta (Co-founder, Zeffko) and Anikendra Das Choudhary (Co-founder, MyFab11), inspiring attendees to pursue entrepreneurial paths.
    
8. Lecture Series:
   Keynotes from leaders like Udit Goyal (COO, Google Cloud India) and Ishan Sharma (YouTuber) provided insights into entrepreneurship and innovation.
    
9. Shark Tank India Special:
   Entrepreneurs from Revamp Moto, Bacca Bucci, and Hammer shared their experiences, complemented by a special session from Shradha Khapra (Founder, Apna College).
    
10. Entertainment:
    The summit included a DJ night with DJ Young and Broke and a comedy performance by Rajat Chauhan, adding a celebratory flair.
     
11. ASHA Initiative:
    UDGAM’25 included a day of social responsibility, donating stationery and organizing activities at a local government school, spreading joy among children.
     

Aniket Gupta, convenor of UDGAM’25, said, “UDGAM aims to nurture the untapped entrepreneurial potential in the Northeast. This year’s edition was a testament to the progress we’re making in shaping future leaders and innovators.”