Hyderabad Hosts BITS Alumni Meet; Governor Lauds Tech Contributions

Hyderabad: Start-ups and the role of alumni in building technology-led enterprises were in focus as the sixth edition of the BITSAA Global Meet 2026 opened at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus on Friday.

The triennial alumni meet was inaugurated by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who spoke about the contribution of BITS Pilani graduates to India’s technology and innovation sectors. He referred to the role played by higher education institutions in research, industry collaboration, and new enterprise creation.

The opening session was attended by senior officials, alumni leaders, academics, and investors. Those present included M. Dana Kishore, principal secretary, labour, Anita Sakuru, chairperson of BGM 2026, V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, Kanwal Rekhi, venture capitalist and angel investor, and Mayur Patnala, chief executive officer of BGM 2026.

Speakers highlighted the need for education systems to keep pace with changes in technology and employment. The institute’s multi-campus presence in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Dubai, and the upcoming campus in Amaravati was outlined, along with the range of academic programmes offered.

The first day of the meet saw a strong focus on entrepreneurship through the Pilani Sharks initiative, where early-stage alumni-led startups presented their business ideas to a panel of investors.

Technical workshops on agentic artificial intelligence and digital wellness were also held, focusing on the use of technology in everyday life.