Lucknow: The entrepreneurial spirit of India was on full display as over 70 promising founders gathered at My Place Co-Working, Lucknow, for the Vision Startups U.P. Pitch Fest 2025 – U.P. Edition, hosted by Vision Startups Accelerator. This landmark gathering brought together early-stage entrepreneurs, angel investors, and seasoned mentors in a celebration of innovation, ambition, and disruptive thinking.
Held in collaboration with STPI, TiE Lucknow, Innovation Hub AKTU, and Starturge India Foundation, the event was themed “Empowering Innovators, Amplifying Success.” It offered startups a high-energy platform to pitch their ideas, gain visibility, receive mentorship, and connect with potential investors.
A Showcase of Bold Ideas and Brave Founders
Throughout the day, founders presented everything from napkin-stage ideas to revenue-generating ventures. The excitement was palpable as deeptech solutions, health innovations, AI-driven platforms, and consumer-centric business models were unveiled. Each pitch reflected the grit and creativity driving Bharat’s new wave of entrepreneurship.
The festival was more than just a competition—it was a hub for community building, meaningful conversations, and startup empowerment.
A Jury of Industry Leaders Faced Tough Decisions
With such high-caliber participation, selecting the top startups wasn’t easy. The judging panel included stalwarts from across the startup ecosystem:
- Sushank Arora, Founder, Nyra Kitchenware
- Sudhanshu Rastogi, Serial Entrepreneur, Angel Investor & Founder, Vision Startups Accelerator
- Saurabh Saha, Strategy Leader & AI Expert
- Abhishek Tiwari, Founder, Venture Mozart
- R D Ranjan, Mentor, Startup India
- Akhilesh Shukla, Startup Mentor
- Anurag Dhawan, CEO, PSIT iTBI
- Amit Mishra, CEO, DazeInfo
The jury actively engaged with founders during live Q&A rounds, evaluating their startup’s problem-solution fit, product readiness, and growth potential.
Top 9 Startups That Stood Out
After two intense rounds of pitching, nine standout ventures were selected as the Pitch Fest Winners—each showing exceptional promise, scalability, and investor appeal:
- Ankit Sharma – Starving Bunnies Pvt. Ltd | Health-focused snacking brand with unique product lines
- Subodh Sharma – Pink Woolf | Ayurvedic luxury grooming solutions for men
- Atam Parkash – Nearcare | Hyperlocal elder care and medical support services
- Deepika Singh – DGRakshak Pvt. Ltd | Tech-enabled disaster response solutions
- Pushkal – AI Hire Studio | AI-driven recruitment and talent acquisition platform
- Sumit Oberoi – Heritage Golf Club and Resorts | Destination leisure and heritage tourism venture
- Poonam Bhatt – HopeAI | Mental health AI companion for emotional support
- Manoj Kumar – Saat Phere | Digital wedding planning and services platform
- Other notable participants creating a buzz included Organicsirji Pvt Ltd, Zenher, DreamShop, Entreprenext, PrachandPrayash, Dhara Agro, and more.
Backed by Ecosystem Builders and Strategic Partners
The event was powered by contributions from startup enablers and industry partners, including Nyra Kitchenware and Sarc Portfolio Pvt. Ltd. Startups also gained exposure to investment networks such as:
- Cogniphy
- 5 Unicorn Angels LLP
- Rapid Bloom Ventures LLP
- A S R Ventures Pvt. Ltd
Early bird participants benefited from discounted registrations, while all founders received certificates and access to further mentorship and acceleration opportunities.
Building the Future from Uttar Pradesh
The Vision Startup Pitch Fest 2025 wasn’t just an event—it was a movement to position Uttar Pradesh as a fertile ground for world-class startups. By empowering local founders, curating real funding opportunities, and fostering mentorship, Vision Startups Accelerator is helping rewrite the startup narrative for Tier 2 and Tier 3 India.
“To every startup that dared the stage—you’re not just building products, you’re building the future,” said Sudhanshu Rastogi, summing up the day’s spirit.
As the curtains close on this edition of Pitch Fest, the momentum is far from over. Vision Startups Accelerator is now preparing for its next cohort—bringing with it fresh opportunities, expert mentoring, and the promise of scale.
