HABIT Foundation Hosts INNOVATE 2026 in Mumbai to Showcase Student Innovations and Prototypes

The HABIT Foundation Incubation Centre, established under the Vivekanand Education Society (VES) Trust, organised HABIT INNOVATE 2026 – Innovation and Prototype Showcase to encourage students to transform creative ideas into practical solutions for real-world challenges.

Conducted under the theme 'Innovating for Real-World Impact' and the tagline 'Ideas That Inspire – Solutions That Transform', the event provided a platform for young innovators to present their concepts, demonstrate prototypes and explore entrepreneurial opportunities.

The showcase featured student-developed ideas across several areas, including child safety, healthcare, education, sustainability, energy and technology. Participants were encouraged to identify everyday problems, experiment with possible solutions and understand how innovative concepts could be developed into practical products or services.

Through the initiative, HABIT Foundation aims to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship among students by promoting experiential learning beyond conventional classroom education. The incubation centre also seeks to connect young innovators with industry professionals, startup mentors and technical experts to help them understand product development and business creation.

Industry Experts Share Insights on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

HABIT INNOVATE 2026 featured discussions and interactions with industry professionals and startup mentors, who shared their experiences on developing ideas, validating business models and building sustainable ventures.

Chief guest Umesh Rathod, an award-winning startup mentor, highlighted the importance of professional networking, adaptability and perseverance in the entrepreneurial journey.

Jawahar Nidamboor, Assistant Vice President – Medical and Clinical Affairs at Alpha MD, discussed the importance of identifying genuine customer requirements and testing proposed solutions through prototype development.

Pankaj Bafna, Founder and Managing Director of Xia Healthcare, emphasised the need to understand customer expectations and establish a clear value proposition while developing commercially sustainable solutions.

The event's jury members, Nilesh Maurya and Sumi Ajmera, encouraged participating students to remain open to new ideas, embrace continuous learning and consider different perspectives while developing innovative solutions.

HABIT Foundation Leadership Highlights Student Innovation

Addressing the gathering, Vijay Talreja, Director of HABIT Foundation and Trustee of Vivekanand Education Society, said that every student has the potential to become an innovator.

He emphasised the importance of creating an environment where students can independently explore ideas, identify practical challenges and develop solutions through experimentation. He added that HABIT INNOVATE is intended to help students move beyond conceptual thinking and gain the confidence, skills and mentorship needed to turn their ideas into meaningful innovations.

Dr Jyoti Chandwani, Nodal Officer of the HABIT Foundation Incubation Centre, highlighted the role of mentorship and institutional support in nurturing young innovators.

She said the foundation aims to provide students with opportunities to experiment, develop problem-solving abilities and build an entrepreneurial mindset through practical exposure and expert guidance.

HABIT INNOVATE 2026 Organised with Industry and Academic Support

The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr Jyoti Chandwani and coordinated by Pooja Jayawant, Manager – HABIT Incubation and Event Coordinator.

The event received support from the HABIT Foundation team, institutional representatives, faculty members and student volunteers.

Discussions throughout the programme covered important aspects of entrepreneurship, including idea generation, design thinking, customer validation, prototype development and commercialisation.

The interactions highlighted the importance of understanding user requirements, testing ideas through practical experimentation and developing solutions with potential market applications.

Through HABIT INNOVATE 2026, the foundation aims to strengthen connections between academic institutions and industry while encouraging students to explore entrepreneurship as a potential career pathway.

About HABIT Foundation

The Hashu Advani Business Incubation Technology (HABIT) Foundation was established on June 7, 2023, under the aegis of the Vivekanand Education Society (VES) Trust.

The foundation works to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and research-driven solutions by supporting early-stage startups, student-led ventures and industry-linked projects.

Its support ecosystem includes mentorship, funding facilitation, technical expertise, infrastructure and industry networking opportunities. HABIT focuses on areas such as Science and Pharmacy, Technology and Engineering, and Architecture and Design.

Through its incubation initiatives, the foundation aims to help transform innovative ideas into scalable ventures while encouraging solutions addressing challenges in healthcare, education, sustainability and emerging technologies.