Pravartan is the official pre-workshop leading into Thalir’25 – Startup Pitch Arena, designed to equip aspiring innovators with the tools, mindset, and skills they need to pitch like professionals. Scheduled ahead of the grand event, Pravartan ensures that the most prepared, confident, and visionary student entrepreneurs take up the big stage.

This exclusive workshop is open only to selected teams who qualify through the registration and screening process. Participants must also confirm their slot by completing the pitch training fee, which secures their access to curated mentorship, hands-on exercises, and insider insights from startup experts. In addition to this, due to the high demand and multiple requests by various interested candidates, we have opened up 30 exclusive slots just for the interested participants who want to be a part of Pravartan. Candidates will be considered on First Come-First Serve Basis. Hurry up, only a few slots remain!

Thalir’25 is SRMIST’s flagship startup pitching platform, held as part of the StartUp Summit 1.0 on 23rd and 24th September 2025. The Thalir’25 pitch event itself will take place on 23rd September 2025, bringing together the most promising student innovators to showcase their game-changing ideas.

This platform is dedicated to deep-tech innovations that address real-world challenges and align with Government missions and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ideas in areas such as AI, IoT, robotics, cleantech, biotechnology, and other transformative technologies are encouraged. However, purely Android-based or solely EdTech-focused concepts will not be accepted, ensuring a wide variety of impactful, scalable, and unique solutions.

The Event Experience

Thalir’25 is designed to feel like stepping into the beating heart of the startup world. From the moment participants take the stage, they enter an environment charged with energy, curiosity, and innovation. Every pitch is an opportunity — not just to impress the jury but to inspire an audience of peers, mentors, and future collaborators.

Teams will face a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors who will challenge them to refine their ideas, justify their decisions, and think critically under pressure. The atmosphere is competitive yet collaborative — encouraging bold thinking, creative problem-solving, and professional growth.

Beyond the competition, Thalir’25 is a rare chance to network with changemakers, exchange ideas with like-minded innovators, and get firsthand insights into the realities of entrepreneurship. The experience sharpens your ability to pitch, enhances your adaptability, and builds the confidence to navigate the unpredictable world of startups.

Team Structure

Each team can have up to four members. Forming a multidisciplinary team — combining skills from different technical, academic, or creative fields — is strongly encouraged and can significantly increase your chances of standing out in the competition.

Thalir’25 is where vision meets opportunity — a place for ideas to sprout, grow, and inspire. Whether you walk away with prizes or a network of valuable connections, you’ll leave with skills, experiences, and insights that can shape your entrepreneurial journey.

What is a Panel Discussion?

A panel discussion is a structured conversation where a group of experts share their insights, experiences, and opinions on a specific theme in front of an audience. The discussion is guided by a moderator, who asks thought-provoking questions, keeps the flow engaging, and ensures each panelist gets to share their perspective.

Unlike a lecture, panel discussions are dynamic and interactive offering different viewpoints, real-life experiences, and sometimes even friendly debates. For the audience, it's an opportunity to gain diverse insights in one place, ask questions, and leave with ideas they can apply in their own journey.

"Innovating for Bharat: No-Code Solutions for Rural Empowerment"

Build scalable, tech-enabled solutions using no-code tools to solve real challenges in rural India in sectors like agriculture, education, health, finance, and local governance.

As part of Startup Summit 1.0, we bring you FINSMART – THE MONEY MASTER CHALLENGE 💡 This team-based event gives participants a fixed virtual budget and a real-world rural challenge to solve. Teams craft smart financial blueprints, tackle surprise curveballs, and balance innovation, feasibility, and impact. Finally, they pitch their plan and defend every rupee spent. A fun, competitive way to sharpen teamwork, money management, and entrepreneurial problem-solving skills!