Participants in the contest will have the opportunity to showcase their AI solutions across several categories including affordable healthcare & assistive technology, education accessibility, human rights & social justice, governance efficiency, economic equity & empowerment, climate change mitigation, disaster response and relief, public safety & security, infrastructure & transportation, and agricultural development.
“We believe that for the first time in human history, we have a technology like AI that has the power to drive significant improvements towards sustainable development goals (SDGs) to improve the lives of billion+ Indians,” said Umakant Soni, Chairman, AI Foundry; Co-founder & former founding CEO, ARTPARK. “Through this contest, we aim to recognize and support innovators who are using AI to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our society today.”
“As an investor and mentor, I am always looking for innovative startups that are using technology to solve real-world problems. The AI contest at Startup Mahakumbh is a fantastic opportunity for startups to gain recognition and support for their impactful work,” said Hari Balasubramanian, Angel Investor & Mentor.
“We are excited to see the innovative solutions that participants will bring forward,” added Anagh Prasad, Investor, Accel. “This contest is not just about winning; it’s about making a meaningful impact on society and shaping the future of AI for the better.”
In addition to gaining visibility for their innovative work, participants will have the opportunity to win a cash prize of 500,000 rupees for the top 6 projects presented. Projects submitted to the contest must be based on AI technologies and address one or more public issues highlighted in the award categories. Submissions must include a project overview, implementation details, impact assessment, and any relevant demos or prototypes. Teams can consist of individuals or groups from startups, research labs, universities, indie developers, or students. The deadline for submission of applications for the contest is March 15, 2024.
Shortlisted projects will be invited to present at the AI & SaaS Pavilion of Startup Mahakumbh on 18th March, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their work to a panel of esteemed industry experts. This pavilion will be a platform showcasing India’s best startups in the AI and SaaS space. Historically, India has been a global IT services hub and is now seen as the next big destination for innovation in AI. The AI & SaaS exhibition will be a vibrant showcase of the startups that are changing the course of the Indian tech sector.
The conference will have insightful discussions covering topics such as AI-driven automation, machine learning algorithms, cloud-based SaaS platforms, and more.