Innovators Conclave Concludes At JNTUA
Over 3,000 students, 300 startups participate; hackathon winners get ₹9 lakh in prizes: Reports
ANANTAPUR: The two-day Innovators Conclave-2026, aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration between academia and industry, concluded at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur (JNTUA) on Sunday.
Organised by Vistara Vidyaanidhi Trust on October 24 and 25, the conclave brought together over 3,000 students, representatives of more than 300 startups and over 80 industry leaders to discuss emerging technologies, research, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
Team Medora, comprising students from PES College, Reva University and GITAM University, won the first prize of ₹5 lakh in the student hackathon. Team Vyntra from BITM, Ballari, secured the second prize of ₹3 lakh, while Team Imperion from Muthayammal Engineering College, Tamil Nadu, won ₹1 lakh. The total prize money was ₹9 lakh.
The event was attended by JNTUA vice-chancellor Dr H. Sudarsana Rao, Sri Krishnadevaraya University vice-chancellor Prof. N.V.R. Jyothikumar, former special chief secretary J.A. Chowdary, Accenture global managing director Gopal Pingali and other industry leaders.
The second day featured discussions on innovation and national development, startup incubation, fundraising, entrepreneurship, and technology, law and governance. Workshops on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and emerging technologies familiarised students with industry trends and skills.
The organisers said the conclave aimed to strengthen ties between educational institutions, startups and industry, while encouraging young innovators to develop practical solutions to real-world problems.
