Thiruvananthapuram: Arunima C R emerges winner in Startup Yatra

Thiruvananthapuram: A solid waste cleaner developed by Arunima C.R, a final year Mechanical diploma student of Government Polytechnic College at Meenangadi in Wayand, was selected as the best innovative project at the finale of the Startup Yatra here on Tuesday.

The project was among the 80 innovative ideas that competed at the grand finale of Startup Yatra organised by the Kerala Startup Mission in association with the Centre's Startup India initiative.

Arunima was selected as the best womenpreneur for the solid waste cleaner that could clean drainages and remove solid waste from water bodies. She received a cash prize of Rs. 75,000.

Rashida V.P. from Kasargod is the first runner-up and Andrea Antony from Kottayam became second runner-up. Rashida developed an app that could be of use for farmers and  Andrea developed a Mind Rover - a brain control wheel chair concept. They received cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 25,000 each. Winners of the boot camps held in districts during the Startup Yatra were given cash award of Rs 50,000 each.

KSUM chief executive officer Saji Gopinath said that the Startup Yatra that covered the entire state provided an opportunity to scores of aspiring entrepreneurs from small towns in the state to pitch in their innovative ideas.

 He also said that even students from non-technical colleges came up with ideas during the Yatra.

During the valedictory function at Technopark, KSUM entered into a partnership with SingEx Exhibitions (India) to provide national incubation support to Startup India's roadshows across the country. An agreement in this regard was signed by Saji Gopinath and Startup India representative Deeksha Singh.