The fifth edition of InnoVenture – India’s first national level ideation and entrepreneurship challenge for schools – saw children from 23 different states and over 100 schools creating solutions for pressing real world problems and presenting them to an eminent panel of jury at VIT college, Pune.

InnoVenture is hosted by IntelligencePlus which provides in-school and after-school programmes for children (3-15 years) aimed at developing 21st century skills such as creativity and innovation, thinking and communication skills, cognitive flexibility and entrepreneurship education. 

On the occasion, Pranjal Jain Gundesha, founder CEO of IntelligencePlus said, “When children can meaningfully apply their knowledge and skills to real life problems, learning becomes relevant and empowering. The one thing I want each of them to take back home is strong belief in themselves, and that they can be change-makers, beginning today not just in the future.”

InnoVenture has impacted over 40,000 students, 400 schools across 110 cities spread across India right from Jammu Kashmir to Assam to Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

The two day national finale saw children, parents and school leaders interacting, mentoring with prominent CEO’s, industry experts, innovators, social entrepreneurs and young change makers. “Children also presented solutions to issues of fake news, public transport, unemployment, animal rescue, emergency management etc. It is simply mind blowing that children are presenting with a strong sense of being change makers themselves,” said Dr Ashwin Naik, Ashoka Fellow. 

The award ceremony recognised schools nurturing creativity and innovation such as Sanskriti – The Gurukul, Guhawati; Sat Paul Mittal School from Ludhiana, Learning Paths School, Mohali to Micro Vision Academy, Burhanpur and Indus International School, Pune. 

On the occasion, Air Marshal BN Gokhale presented Gundesha a memento recognising her immense contribution to nurturing skills for the future of the country.

“It’s a movement of sorts that has left me totally impressed and charged,” said Pradeep Bhargava, independent director, Presistent Systems. 

“This is a new perspective not just for students but also for the parents/school leaders. I came just to drive down my child but I am so inspired and learnt so many things myself,” expressed a parent of Champion School, Mumbai.