High school startups from around the world pitch bold, impact-driven ideas at TiE Young Entrepreneurs Global Pitch Competition held in Virginia and Delhi-NCR.

By Rowena Kay Mascarenhas

WASHINGTON, DC: Six exceptional teams of high school student entrepreneurs emerged today from a competitive pool of 29 international finalists to pitch their innovative startup ideas at the TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Global Pitch Competition. Held simultaneously at the FUSE Center on George Mason University’s campus in Fairfax, Virginia, and at Amity University in Delhi-NCR, the event was co-hosted by the Washington, D.C., and Delhi-NCR chapters of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), showcasing the next generation of bold, purpose-driven innovators.

The finalists delivered 10-minute presentations, followed by five minutes of questions from a judging panel comprising Dubai-based Yasmin Rose, founder of Rise Birth Center; California-based industry analyst Frank Scavo; India-based Kamal Wadhera, founder and CEO of TCYonline; Arunmozhi Balasubramanian, CBO of L&T Technology Services in Atlanta; and Bangalore-based entrepreneur and educator Bindu Subramaniam.

The judges selected three winning teams:

1st Place ($3,000): Kymavi (Seattle) – Developed a marine-biodegradable packaging that decomposes in 3–6 months. Upon degradation, it releases targeted additives that help mitigate ocean acidification, support plankton growth, and break down pollutants — offering a regenerative alternative to traditional packaging.
2nd Place ($1,500): Key Beauty (Seattle) – Presented a marketplace curating international beauty brands tailored for people of color, addressing the lack of products for diverse skin tones and undertones.
3rd Place ($1,000): OOMI (Rajasthan) – Introduced a centralized cooling system featuring a single underground outdoor unit connected to multiple indoor units, reducing heat emissions and improving energy efficiency in densely built environments.

“We’re thrilled to win; it reflects eight months of hard work and growth,” said Tayem Keshk, CEO of Kymavi. “Presenting Kymavi on a global stage was an honor. Thanks to our parents, mentors, and the organizers. Beyond the competition itself, we’ve gained skills and confidence that will stay with us.”

READ: Robotic biomedical waste disposal system wins first prize in TiE DC competition (May 1, 2018)

Added Arjun Panpaliya, Kymavi’s COO: “We spent countless hours building Kymavi from scratch. Seeing pollution in our home countries and even in our local lake pushed us to act. We wanted to create something that not only breaks down, but also helps the oceans and our environment — and that’s what Kymavi does.”

The other teams that made it to the Global finals were

Syncora Wearables (Delhi-NCR): A discreet safety wearable that sends the user’s live location and a voice message at the press of a button.
Fibre Flow (Houston): A sustainable water filtration system using natural materials like moringa seeds, charcoal, sand, and banana-stem fabric, providing clean water while supporting local employment and circular economy practices.
The Japa Store (Udaipur): A 40-day postpartum nutrition plan for new mothers, rooted in traditional ingredients and ayurvedic knowledge to support recovery and well-being.

All 29 participating teams had the opportunity to present an elevator pitch for one minute each.

“I am so inspired by the creativity and drive of the students in the TYE Global Pitch Competition,” Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair of the TiE Global Board of Trustees, said, delivering the opening address. “Their bold ideas and entrepreneurial spirit are a powerful reminder that the next generation is already building solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”

“The TYE student entrepreneurs care deeply and are genuinely driven to find meaningful solutions for the challenges we face today and in the future,” said TiE Global ED, Vijay Menon.

Listed among the world’s top 10 high school entrepreneurship competitions, the TYE Global Pitch Competition is the culmination of weeks of mentoring, curriculum delivery, and team-building activities. Regional winners advance to the global finals.

“I’m in the privileged position to witness the growth, maturity, and self-confidence that our young entrepreneurs experience,” said Adam Carter, TYE Program Director. “It’s an excellent way for high school students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, but the soft skills that they develop in TYE go a long way in aiding their academic and professional development.”

“This is only the beginning for all of our students,” Rahul Jain, Senior Data Scientist with FedEx and a mentor to TYE program, added. “Their futures are bright and full of possibilities, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”

Adding to the vibrancy of the event were the alumni volunteers for each piece of the competition, creating a smooth event experience for everyone. “The most valuable part of TYE is being immersed in a tight-knit community, where helping each other to build better businesses goes hand in hand with our growth as better people,” said TYE alumna Vrinda Heda, a student of Lexington High School and volunteer at the finals.

READ: Annual TiE Young Entrepreneurs global competition kicks off on June 22 (June 19, 2018)

The event was attended by over 125 parents, students, and entrepreneurs from North America.

“Education is core to TiE DC’s mission, bringing together close to 50 students every year from across DC, Virginia, and Maryland for the TYE program,” said Srini Bayireddy, CEO of Navitas Business Consulting inc, and President of TiE DC chapter. “We’re grateful for our strong partnership with GMU, a key driver of the entrepreneurial mindset. This is our second time hosting the finals, thanks to the support of Credence and the Khera Charitable Fund,” he said.

The organizing team included Kavita Govindarajan, EVP at Plateau Group; Venkat Veera, CEO & Co-Founder at Xcelligen Inc.; Art Stevens, TiE DC Executive Director; Trushant Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of OpenEyes Technologies; and Sumeet Luthra, President and CEO of Constellation Inc.