Bhau Institute · COEP Technological University

Ignited Innovators
of India

The flagship innovation and entrepreneurship initiative turning bold student ideas into deep-tech startups. Mentorship, capital, and a founder ecosystem engineered for the next generation of builders.

Explore Portals

10,000+: Innovators engaged
2,000+: Projects developed
10+: Years running

Live ecosystem · 10th year running

About I2I

Where student ambition becomes enduring enterprise

Ignited Innovators of India was founded by Prof. Sanjay Inamdar with the blessing of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and operates under COEP Technological University's Bhau Institute of Entrepreneurship & Leadership, with the continued support of Eaton India Foundation. The initiative develops student entrepreneurs and leaders who create lasting techno-social impact.

3H (Health, Hunger, Humanity)

Agriculture

Education

Innovation & Technology

Environment

Entrepreneurship

Phase 1 — Registration

Registration opens each year across multiple sectors and closes in the last week of September. Open to Indian resident students nationwide, eligible to compete for i2i funding.

Phase 2 — Screening

Participating teams submit a project proposal and presentation outlining their idea, budget, and impact — the basis on which funded projects are selected.

Phase 3 — Mentoring

Selected projects receive funds released per i2i's guidelines, giving teams a defined window to build and complete a working model of their idea.

Phase 4 — Recognition

Shortlisted projects pitch to a panel of industrialists, with the best teams honored at the Valedictory Ceremony at COEP Technological University.

Statewide Reach

Twelve regions. One outreach circuit across Maharashtra.

The I2I team stays connected across Maharashtra, building relationships with colleges, E-cells, activity clubs, faculty, and Training & Placement Offices — covering every major region of the state.

Regions covered

15+

E-cells & activity clubs

Months of outreach

Major Activities & Events

Statewide Outreach & Publicity

The I2I team runs outreach and publicity across Marathwada, Pune region, Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur, and stays connected with colleges in Nashik, Nagar, Amravati, and Nagpur. The team maintains an active network of 15+ E-cells and student activity clubs, building strong relationships with faculty members, Training & Placement Offices, and institutional leaders across Maharashtra.

The Journey

Idea to impact, in four phases

Every project at I2I moves through four deliberate phases, from registration to the valedictory ceremony.

01 · Aug – Sep

Registration

Teams from across Maharashtra register their project idea and receive a unique project code to track their journey.

02 · October

Funding & Pitch

Shortlisted teams submit their budget, pitch their idea, and share bank details for potential funding support.

03 · Nov – Jan

Mentorship

A dedicated mentor from Eaton and an ambassador from COEP are assigned to guide the project through implementation.

04 · Feb – Mar

Valedictory

Finalists present their completed projects at COEP in front of the judging panel, with winners announced at the valedictory ceremony.

The full process, in 30 seconds

Awards

What's on the line at Valedictory

Twelve sector winners, one overall champion, and recognition that carries beyond the ceremony.

Sector Winners

Best Project and Runner Up in each of the 6 sectors — 12 teams honored with a trophy, merchandise, and certificate.

Overall Best Project

One team, selected across all sectors, wins the top trophy and a featured spot on the website and yearly brochure.

Best Philanthropist Award

Given to the college with the strongest body of quality projects, unlocking access to i2i's online workshops.

Best Outside Ambassador

Recognizes an ambassador's contribution to i2i with a trophy, certificate, and exclusive merchandise.

Portals

One platform, four journeys

Every role in the I2I ecosystem has a dedicated portal built around what they need to get done.

Secretary

Master access — manage all registrations, phases, assignments, and funding.

Eaton Mentor

Eaton mentors — view and guide your assigned projects through implementation.

Ambassadors

Chief ambassadors & ambassadors — track and support your assigned projects.

Participants

Team leaders — track your project's progress through each phase.

Live Statistics

Momentum you can measure

Real outcomes from a growing ecosystem of student founders, mentors, and industry partners.

Innovators engaged

Participants over 10 years

Projects developed

Across all cohorts

Colleges & institutes

Across Maharashtra & India

Years running

Since inception

Featured Startups

Built by students. Backed by I2I.

A snapshot of ventures born inside the ecosystem, now solving real problems at scale.

3H - Health, Hunger & Humanity

MediFindRx

i2i Cohort

Real-time medicine availability, pharmacy and hospital connections, ambulance and bed booking for emergency healthcare access.

View venture

Agriculture

Agri-Lift

i2i Cohort

Multi-functional mechanical vehicle helping farmers carry dairy and agri materials, sow seeds, and spray fertilisers — reducing back injuries with a companion mobile app.

View venture

Innovation & Technology

NavSense

i2i Cohort

LIDAR-powered smart navigation cane for the visually impaired with obstacle & water detection, haptic alerts, AI-driven guidance, GPS, and an emergency SOS button.

View venture

Mentors & Partners

Guided by operators who have built before

A curated bench of founders, investors, and industry leaders who mentor every I2I cohort.

Leadership

Mr. Mandar Joshi

CEO – COEP's Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Leadership

BIEL

Prof. Sanjay Inamdar

Co-Founder – BIEL & Founder – i2i

BIEL / i2i

Prof. Sunil Bhirud

Vice Chancellor

COEP Tech

Dr. AM More

Faculty Advisor

i2i

Mr. Swapnil Mali

AGM

BIEL

Ms. Mayuri Kamble

Project Research Assistant

i2i

Past Secretaries

Mr. Aditya Kasod

Secretary (2025-26)

i2i

Mr. Atharva Shingane

Secretary (2024-25)

i2i

Mr. Saket Kaswa

Secretary (2023-24)

i2i

Mr. Soham Methul

Secretary (2022-23)

i2i

Eaton Coordinators

Abhijeet Waghmare

Eaton Coordinator

Eaton

Bobby Zachariah

Eaton Coordinator

Eaton

Anuja Pendse

Eaton Coordinator

Eaton

Bhavya Modi

Eaton Coordinator

Eaton

Vikas Khule

Engineering Manager

Eaton India

Backed by an ecosystem of industry partners

Eaton India Foundation

Activities

Seven activities, one mission

Throughout the year, i2i ambassadors run a structured set of activities that build real entrepreneurial and social skills.

My Social Start-up

Ambassadors formed groups and selected Social Problem Cards, taking on roles like CEO, Marketing, Finance, and R&D to simulate a real social enterprise.

Outcome: Business thinking, social responsibility, teamwork

60-Second Challenge

An individual activity where participants identified a ground-level problem and proposed a solution within 60 seconds.

Outcome: Time efficiency, critical thinking

If I Were the Founder

Ambassadors proposed meaningful social changes to existing startups — e.g. "If I were the founder of Zomato, I would mandate sustainable containers."

Outcome: Social innovation, creative problem-solving

Developing an Ecosystem

Instead of plain donations, ambassadors built a self-sustaining model — collecting pens from the team and distributing them to underprivileged individuals to sell.

Outcome: Practical understanding of social enterprise dynamics

Publicity Activity

Ambassadors trained in publicity methods and applied them live at Mindspark, COEP Tech's annual fest, engaging the public directly.

Outcome: Overcoming stage fear, public engagement

Calling Pitch

Ambassadors trained to communicate i2i's vision over calls — delivering concise, engaging, and persuasive pitches.

Outcome: Communication, persuasion, professionalism

Phase 2

Apno Wali Diwali

A social initiative supporting local artisans during Diwali — participants bought diyas or handcrafted items from local vendors and shared the moment on Instagram with #ApnoWaliDiwali.

Outcome: Community support, sustainable celebration, social engagement

Testimonials

Voices from the i2i community

What ambassadors and coordinators say after moving through the I2I ecosystem.

Being part of I2I-BHAU showed me that real social change starts with people like us choosing to get involved. It genuinely is a platform to become the kind of change-maker our communities need.

RWRameshwar WalkikarOutside Ambassador, Avsari

Working with I2I at Bhau Institute was an incredible experience — the relationships I built and the chance to give back shaped how I lead and manage teams today.

ICIshwari ChandekarCoordinator, i2i

This journey taught me to learn how to learn, a lesson from Sanjay Inamdar sir that stuck with me. I move slowly, but never alone — the team is what holds it all together.

HDHarshvardhan DhoteCoordinator, i2i

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Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Leadership

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Where student ambition becomes enduring enterprise

Ignited Innovatorsof India