SPJIMR students win SBI Life’s IdeationX 2.0 innovation challenge

Pritish Wadhwa, Stuti Rajesh Shah, and Eshan Sharma, second-year management students from SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai, emerged as the winners of SBI Life Insurance’s national innovation challenge, IdeationX 2.0.

The competition sought breakthrough ideas to transform India’s life insurance landscape.

This year’s edition attracted participation from over 31,000 students representing more than 100 top B-schools across the country, showcasing the growing enthusiasm among young innovators to tackle real-world challenges in the insurance sector.

India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, Abhinav Bindra, graced the event as chief guest, motivating students with insights drawn from his athletic journey.

“It was truly inspiring to witness the passion and intent these young innovators brought to IdeationX 2.0. Their energy reminded me of my own journey, built on focus, patience, and consistent effort,” he said.

“What stood out most was their commitment to leveraging ideas as a force of positive change. Platforms like IdeationX by SBI Life are vital as they inspire young minds to think deeply, develop ideas that address real-world challenges, and infuse fresh energy into industries that touch millions of lives. It’s this combination of innovation and perseverance that ultimately drives progress,” he added.

Launched as SBI Life’s flagship youth innovation platform, IdeationX encourages students to craft creative solutions for industry challenges while fostering collaboration between academia and business.

The second edition expanded its presence nationwide, cementing its position as one of India’s most dynamic industry-academia partnerships.

Out of thousands of submissions, eight teams reached the final round to present their ideas before Amit Jhingran, MD & CEO, SBI Life, and a distinguished jury including M Anand, President & Chief Distribution Officer; Abhijit Gulanikar, President – Business Strategy; G Durgadas, President – Operations & IT; and Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communications & CSR.

Namita Gupta, Nitika Bansal, and Sakshi Agarwal from IIM Shillong were declared first runners-up, while Aishwary Singh, Aditi Pandey, and Aditya Jain from MICA Ahmedabad, along with Chaitanya Gupta, Prachi Damania, and Akash Bhanse from IIM Lucknow, shared the second runners-up title.

Highlighting the initiative’s vision, Ravindra Sharma said, “India stands at an inflection point where innovation and inclusion are redefining financial security. At SBI Life, we believe the next leap for the industry will come from fresh thinking, from technology that simplifies to ideas that empower individuals to pursue their aspirations with confidence and responsibility.”

"IdeationX 2.0 embodies this practical innovation spirit, bringing together young minds from top B-schools to reimagine how life insurance can become more inclusive, empathetic, and meaningful. We see youth-led innovation as central to realizing the national vision of Insurance for All by 2047,” Sharma added.

The finale marked a celebration of creativity, problem-solving, and forward-looking ideas that promise to shape the future of life insurance in India.