Pune: Dana India Technical Centre (DITC) proudly announces the successful completion of the Dana Innovation Challenge 2.0, organized in collaboration with the Bhau Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP).

The Bhau Institute serves as a startup incubation center dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurs and fostering the growth of new startup companies.

The Dana Innovation Challenge 2.0 invited startups to showcase their innovative ideas. After a rigorous selection process, eight startups were chosen to present their pitches to a jury comprising Dana representatives and external experts.

The selected startups will now have the opportunity to work at the newly inaugurated Dana Innovation Studio at COEP's Bhau Institute, a key component of Dana’s CSR strategy.

The winning startups include:

• Arpit Chahande, YellowMatrix Pvt Ltd.

• Ganesh Shelke, Dopar Energy Pvt Ltd.

• Dhivit Bhandari, DB Potential LLP.

• Srishti Sharma, Shakti Wearables, Innovationsatss Pvt Ltd.

• Himanshu Sahu, Voltworks Technologies Pvt Ltd.

These winners will participate in the Dana Innovation Studio Program, a 12-month intensive CSR initiative supported by Dana in collaboration with COEP’s Bhau Institute.

The program offers comprehensive support, including technological development assistance from Dana India, testing and industry monitoring by Dana experts, access to COEP’s Bhau Institute infrastructure and lab facilities, and extensive business mentoring.

Additionally, participants will benefit from networking opportunities, funding prospects, and scaling support.

Raghu Muttige, Director & Head of DITC, and a member of the jury, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "The Dana National Innovation Challenge 2.0, part of Dana India’s CSR efforts, exemplifies our commitment to fostering creativity and excellence, helping today's innovators become tomorrow's industry leaders.

Through our collaboration with COEP’s Bhau Institute, we aim to provide startups with the resources, mentorship, and technological support necessary to turn their groundbreaking ideas into reality. This initiative drives technological advancements in the automotive industry and contributes to sustainable development and economic growth."

Mandar Joshi, CEO of COEP’s Bhau Institute, added, "At COEP’s Bhau Institute, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Our collaboration with Dana India through the Dana Innovation Challenge 2.0 is a powerful testament to our shared vision of empowering startups to turn their groundbreaking ideas into reality.

This partnership not only accelerates technological advancements but also drives sustainable economic growth. We are proud to support the next generation of industry leaders."

Dana India remains committed to undertaking such groundbreaking projects and contributing to innovation and development.