Himalayan Startup Trek is the flagship annual startup event hosted by IIT Mandi Catalyst (Catalyst) to bring together the stakeholders of the Indian Startup Ecosystem and connect them on a single platform. New venturing startups and seasoned mentors get to meet each other and pick each others' brains that help formulate new relationships and turn the ideas and innovations into products and services for the global market.
| Day 1: Sep 29, 2023 | Friday |
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|---|---|
| Time | Agenda |
| 6:00 - 8:00 AM | Yoga/Trek (For Interested) |
| 7:30 - 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 1:00 PM |
|
| 12:30 - 2:00 PM | Networking Lunch |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM |
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| 5:00 PM onwards | Networking Hi-Tea |
| 6:00 - 8:00 PM | AMA (Ask me Anything Session with Investors) |
| 8:00 - 9:00 PM | Networking Dinner |
| 9:00 PM onwards |
|
| Day 2 : Sep 30, 2023 | Saturday |
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|---|---|
| 6:00 - 8:00 AM | Yoga/Trek (For Interested) |
| 7:30 - 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Inaugural Session |
| 10:00 - 11:00 AM | Keynote address |
| 11:00 - 12:00 PM | Panel Discussion 1 |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Panel Discussion 2 |
| 12:30 - 2:00 PM | Networking Lunch |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Startup Clinics in One-to-One & One-to-Many formats |
| 5:00 PM onwards | Networking Hi-Tea |
| 6:30 - 8:00 PM |
|
| 8:00 PM onwards | Networking Dinner |
| 9:00 PM onwards | Karaoke and JAM Session |
| Day 3 : Oct 01, 2023 | Sunday |
|
|---|---|
| 6:00 - 8:00 AM | Yoga/Trek (For Interested) |
| 7:30 - 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 -11:00 AM | Catalyst Startups Roundtable (Close Door) |
| 11:00 - 1:00 PM | Investor/Mentor Roundtable |
| 12:30 - 2:00 PM | Lunch |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Trek / Excursion to Kandi Peak |
| 8:00 PM onwards | Networking Dinner |
| 9:00 PM onwards | Celebrations |
Like last year, this year too HST will feature the ‘HST Grand Challenge’ - startup pitch competition in three thematic areas. The grand challenge is focused on identifying and catalysing ideas and innovations that will amplify startups’ efforts and impact.
The new age alliance through Human-computer interaction (HCI) is all about enhancing humans’ cognitive and decision-making capacity through the use of technology without disrupting the natural order of events. This challenge aims to promote the use of intelligent interfaces and technologies in daily order of routine as well as in the complex business and social decision-making processes.
The multidisciplinary field of HCI focuses on the design of computer technology and, in particular, the interaction between humans (the users) and computers. While initially concerned with computers, HCI has since expanded to cover almost all forms of information technology design. The focus of HCI is to use computer’s intelligence and computation capabilities in decision making, prediction, estimation, communication, and processing.
The critical element of HCI is the interaction and feedback loop between the machine and humans that result in enhancing the cognitive abilities of the humans. One may note that computer systems are primarily used as a communication medium. For an innovation/product to qualify as HCI, it has to have the elements of interaction and feedback with the humans. While most mobile/web applications are for mere communication between buyers and sellers, integration of recommendation systems, predictive analytics, decision automation qualify an application as the HCI-relevant solution.
As the applicability of HCI is very wide, it is difficult to give a single example that can represent the HCI area or its meaning. However, HCI has use cases in agriculture, landslide monitoring, farming applications, air pollution monitoring, digital pathology, neuroradiology, and body area networks.
Problem areas in this thematic area are devised in consultation with iHub and HCI foundation at IIT Mandi (iHub), and the Indian HCI foundation.
Problem Statements in Human Computer Interaction thematic area
This thematic area is for innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs that have the intent and the passion to build technology-based solutions for solving the social, economic, and ecological problems facing Himalayan regions of the world. The problems should sharply focus on addressing the issues relevant to the local terrain, population, environment, ecology, or focus on taking local products and offerings to the world by building supply chains, storages, or build capacity at different value chain levels. Further solutions focusing on rural development issues such as education and literacy, skilling, local e-marketplaces, will fit into this thematic area. The sub-themes include:
The problem statements in this area are devised in close communication with the state's Industries Department, HP Center for Entrepreneurship Development, Department of IT, and Labor Commissioner Office-HP.
Problem Statements in Build for Himalayas thematic area
The past few decades have witnessed a devastating effect on the environment because of human intervention in nature's life cycle. Our world's natural resources are constantly depleting, and there's a dire need to preserve these resources. This theme of HST Grant Challenge aims to enable startups and innovators who strive to make the world more livable and habitable place for all species. The specific problem statements of interest under this theme include clean & renewable energy, waste management, e-vehicles, green solutions, recycling, natural resource management. However, the innovators and startups that are building solutions aligning with the UN-Sustainable Development Goals are welcome to apply under this challenge. The sub-themes are as follows:
The problem statements for this area have been developed in partnership with Peak ventures, Pollution control board-HP, and National Health Mission-HP.
Problem Statements in Environment and Sustainability thematic area
HST 2023 will be hosted on campus.
29 Sep - 30 Sep - 1 Oct
Burrowed in the hills of Himalayan foothills, away from the city lights and the urban din, exists a startup ecosystem slowly budding and preparing to bloom! Here at the IIT Mandi Catalyst, we are ready to host the 7th edition of the Himalayan Startup Trek (HST), a three-days startup event hosted by IIT Mandi Catalyst.
The previous editions of HST since 2017 have proved to be highly impactful, with unceasing buzz throughout the two days with the presence of who's-who of the entrepreneurial and business world. The robust HST event schedules have invited pitch sessions from across the country, with opportunities to have investor one-on-ones. The events proved to be an amalgamation of startups, investors, corporations, and industry veterans from around the country to boost the startup ecosystem in the hills. With the current edition, we aim to leave the entrepreneurial minds inspired, zealous, and recharged for the times to come!
HST is a gateway for startups to Catalyst, IIT Mandi's in-house Technology Business Incubator. More than 340 startups, in various stages of their journeys, have gone through IIT Mandi Catalyst's processes as incubatees in the last three years. While addressing pressing issues of the modern-day world, these teams tackle problems, including those of the Himalayan region. They have been hand-held, funded, and groomed by industry experts from various trade domains.
The portfolio of startups is myriad. While some are working keenly on the local issues of the Himalayan people, others are building solutions to conserve the environment. From building sensors that predict landslides and alert residents of the area well in advance to making eco-friendly cook-stoves, the desire to help the community flows through their veins.
HST 2023 promises to be bigger and better with the kind of traction it is garnering in the country's far reaches. Founders of renowned startups, industry experts, and angel investors have been brought on board to ensure the event is ripe with the right mix of flavors from the startup arena. Mentoring on high-tech topics ranging from Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Social Impact ventures will provide sufficient food for thought during the two days to the budding innovators and entrepreneurs.
The Himalayas have long been regarded as the land of monks, mountains, and temples and solely a summertime get-away. HST endeavors to showcase its emerging entrepreneurial potential and spirit as well. In the past five years, IIT Mandi Catalyst has strived to cradle and nurture the nascent startup ecosystem silently burgeoning in the valley. With HST 2023 almost at the doorstep, IIT Mandi Catalyst sets out to invite startups from across the country and have the world witness the growth taking place in these hills. Hail the call of the mountains! Startup in Hills with IIT Mandi Catalyst!
Among the fastest growing states in India, Himachal had at a CAGR of 10.8% during the decade 2005-2015. With per capita GSDP 1.5 times the national per capita GDP, the state has tremendous potential for business activity in agriculture, horticulture, biotech, food processing, clean energy, thermal energy, tourism, pharma and healthcare. Government of Himachal Pradesh, through CM Startup Scheme launched in 2017, is also promoting already flourishing startup culture in the state.
IIT Mandi Catalyst was launched in 2016 by IIT Mandi as the first Technology Business Incubator (TBI) in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Away from pollution, long commute, noise, and other big-city problems, it offers a low-cost, peaceful, and high-tech destination to early-stage startups.
In only seven years of its existence, Catalyst has emerged as one of the leading incubators in the region and is among the more active incubators in the country. In its short journey, Catalyst has supported over 340+ startups in a range of sectors including clean energy, healthcare, enterprise management, agriculture, manufacturing, biotech, education, and consumer internet. The incubation program of Catalyst plugs the skill gaps of the startup founders through its mentoring and training programs. Catalyst has hosted over 100 such programs to date. Further, the funding needs of startups in the early stages are also met through the funding schemes hosted at Catalyst. Catalyst, to date, has disbursed or committed over INR 10+ Cr for prototyping and commercialization purposes to the startups.
Amidst the pristine hills in the foothills of the Himalayas, the IIT Mandi Catalyst is the breeding ground for innovations within the Himalayas. A one of a kind Technology Incubation Center brings to the world the indigenous frugality of the mountain world and vice versa.
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Competent jury panels in each of the thematic areas will evaluate the applications in a multi-stage screen and selection process. The jury will include representatives of sponsoring agencies, incubation center, thematic expert, and technology experts.
IIT Mandi, Kamand Campus, Himachal Pradesh-175005, India
+91 7807090713 / 8091781808
iitmandicatalyst@gmail.com
