The Escape: TIU’s First Structured Incubation Program Empowers Student Innovation

Techno India University marked a significant milestone in its innovation ecosystem with “The Escape,” the first-ever structured incubation program designed to transform student ideas into scalable and impactful solutions. Emerging from the momentum of IdeaThon 2025, the initiative reflected a strong culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and entrepreneurial growth within the university’s Technical Club Takshila.

From Idea Selection to Incubation

Following a rigorous selection process during IdeaThon 2025, ten promising teams advanced into The Escape incubation cohort: Team 404, Team Sportify, Team Mark85, Team SoilGuard, Team Vajra, Team Think Tank, Team Settlamatos, Team Aquila, Team FREMN, and Team Choose Good. The incubation cohort was further strengthened by the inclusion of the Top 5 teams from ROBOKRITI, the flagship event of Vivarta 2025–26, enhancing technical diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The program ran from 22nd November to 20th December 2025, adopting a hybrid mentorship model that combined offline engagement with structured online guidance. The initiative was driven by collaborative efforts between the Innovation & Management Domain, led by Shamarthi Basu and Khushi Kumari, and the Computing Domain, led by Adarsh Gupta – demonstrating how cross-domain synergy can accelerate innovation.

Structured Mentorship and Growth Framework

A defining feature of The Escape was its personalised mentorship structure, where each team received dedicated guidance to strengthen product development, market validation, branding, and pitching strategies. Mentors included Krish Goenka (AI/ML), Adarsh Gupta (Web3), Palak Chaplot (Pitching), Khushi Kumari (Marketing & Pitching), Anurag Roy (Cyber), Pratham Dudani (ScapeGoat), Debarshi Chakroborty (AI/ML), Amit Nishad (General Tech), Darshil Agrawal (General Tech), and Shamarthi Basu (Business Management).

Offline mentorship sessions were conducted every Saturday – 22nd November, 6th December, 13th December, and 20th December – ensuring consistent hands-on learning and progress throughout the incubation journey. The program culminated on 22nd December with the Final Presentation Round, where teams showcased refined products, stronger business strategies, and the growth achieved during the program.

Teams also participated in daily 9:00 PM stand-up meetings during weekdays, sharing progress updates, addressing challenges, and refining execution strategies. Each Saturday followed a structured workflow that included workshops, branding activities, mentor refinement sessions, and concise pitch presentations, creating a disciplined yet collaborative learning environment.

Innovation in Action

Throughout the incubation phase, participants focused on transforming early-stage ideas into execution-ready solutions. Continuous feedback, structured milestones, and active collaboration enabled teams to strengthen both their technical foundations and entrepreneurial vision. The hybrid model encouraged accountability while allowing teams to experiment, iterate, and grow within a supportive innovation ecosystem.

Final Presentation and Top Achievers

The incubation journey concluded with a final evaluation by experienced faculty members and business professionals. The presentations reflected significant growth in product maturity, clarity of vision, and strategic execution.

Top 3 Teams of The Escape:

  1. Team SoilGuard — Recognised for its sustainability-driven approach and strong problem–solution alignment.
  2. Team FREMN — Commended for technical excellence, scalability, and consistent execution.
  3. Team Vajra — Applauded for strategic planning, market clarity, and leadership-driven innovation.

A New Chapter for Student Entrepreneurship

More than an incubation initiative, The Escape represented a transformative step in nurturing student-led innovation at Techno India University. By combining mentorship, structured workflows, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the program created a platform where ideas evolved into meaningful ventures.

As Techno India University continues to strengthen its innovation ecosystem, The Escape stands as a testament to the institution’s commitment to empowering young innovators and fostering a future shaped by creativity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit.