The programme backs student projects ranging from preserving Dharavi’s pottery tradition to developing counter-drone AI technology.
Groww Foundation, the philanthropic arm of India’s investment platform Groww, has selected 19 projects from 35 student innovators at IIT Bombay under the first cohort of its INV.ENT programme.
The projects were chosen from nearly 400 submissions spanning technology, healthcare, sustainability, and social innovation.
The selected ideas highlight the diversity of student-led innovation, ranging from preserving Dharavi’s traditional pottery industry to developing AI-powered counter-drone technology for protecting critical infrastructure.
Innovation Across Multiple Sectors
The first INV.ENT cohort includes projects designed to solve real-world challenges across different industries.
Among the selected ideas is a digital marketplace that connects Dharavi’s potters directly with customers, helping preserve one of India’s oldest craft traditions while expanding market access for local artisans.
Other projects include a wearable sleeve that guides physiotherapy patients through rehabilitation exercises, a platform that converts carbon dioxide into high-protein biomass, and an artificial intelligence system developed to detect and counter rogue drones targeting critical infrastructure.
The programme also supports innovations in climate technology, healthcare, advanced engineering, and digital platforms.
Supporting Student Entrepreneurs
Groww Foundation launched the INV.ENT programme to help students transform promising ideas into practical ventures.
By backing projects at an early stage, the initiative aims to encourage entrepreneurship and provide young innovators with the support needed to develop solutions that can create social and economic impact.
The foundation selected the first cohort after evaluating hundreds of submissions from students across multiple disciplines at IIT Bombay.
Focus on Impact
The chosen projects combine emerging technologies with practical applications.
Some focus on improving healthcare and rehabilitation, while others address environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and national security through artificial intelligence and advanced engineering.
The inclusion of the Dharavi pottery marketplace reflects the programme’s emphasis on combining technology with traditional industries, helping artisans reach wider markets while preserving India’s cultural heritage.
Conclusion
Through the INV.ENT programme, Groww Foundation is supporting a new generation of innovators working on solutions with the potential to address challenges across healthcare, sustainability, defence, and traditional industries.
The first cohort demonstrates how student-led innovation can combine modern technology with social impact, creating opportunities that extend from Dharavi’s pottery community to AI-powered infrastructure protection.
