We are thrilled to announce that eight rural students from Odisha, nurtured by the Young Tinker Foundation, have been selected to participate in the Global Junicorn & AI Summit 2025, to be held on May 29–30, 2025, at Texas State University, San Marcos.
These talented students were identified through the Foundation’s flagship initiatives: Young Tinker Space and Tinker on Wheels (ToW)—programs that bring hands-on STEM learning to underserved schools across India.
Visa Success and International Pitch Experience
Recently, all eight students traveled to Hyderabad to secure their U.S. visas. During their visit, they also had the opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas at the Draper Startup House, Hyderabad, gaining valuable feedback and exposure.
Their journey has been mentored by the Young Tinker Foundation, with support from SELF (Sachi Ecopowered Livelihood Foundation) and the International Startup Foundation (ISF)
Idea 1: YTSAT 2.0 – Helium Balloon Satellite for Agriculture
By Digbijay Sahu (Govt High School, Soro, Balasore) and Chiranjib Barik (Govt High School, Soro, Balasore)
The Problem: Small-scale farmers often lack access to localized, real-time data on soil and crop health, leading to low yields, excessive water use, and inefficient farm management. Traditional satellite imaging is expensive and lacks precision.
The Solution: YTSAT 2.0 is a helium balloon satellite embedded with LIDAR, nano-sensors, and LoRa technology. It captures high-resolution, real-time images of farmland, detects soil health, crop stress, and water levels, and sends actionable insights directly to farmers’ mobile phones.
Market Potential: With 150 million farmers in India, this is a ₹40,000 crore opportunity. The business model includes device sales, data subscriptions, and partnerships with agri-tech firms and government agencies.
How Were They Identified?
Digbijay and Chiranjib were discovered through ToW’s visit to their school in Balasore, which impacted over 1,500 students. As part of a student team from Soro, they completed a month-long training to build YTSAT 1.0, a working CubeSat prototype (10cm x10cm x10 cm). Their idea was first presented at school, and later showcased at TinkerFest in Soro, Balasore.
Idea 2: Rural Volt – Decentralized Ethanol Production in Villages
By Koushik Kar(Govt High School, Soro, Balasore) and Sridhar Jena (Govt High School, Brahmapur)
The Problem: Rural communities often rely on expensive, polluting fuels while agricultural waste goes unused. Transportation costs for fuel further burden village economies.
The Solution: Rural Volt establishes small-scale ethanol production units directly in villages, enabling farmers to convert crop waste into clean, renewable fuel. This reduces dependency on petrol and diesel, cuts emissions, and creates local jobs.
Market Potential: India’s biofuel sector is expected to reach ₹50,000 crore by 2030. The startup will offer modular ethanol units and license the technology to local cooperatives.
How Were They Identified?
Koushik Kar is from a government school in Soro, visited by ToW 2085A.
Sridhar Jena attends a government school in the Govt School (Medical Campus) of Brahmapur, home to a permanent Young Tinker Space.
Idea 3: Masala GPT – AI-Powered Spice Blending System
By P. Aditya and Soumya Sourav Gouda (Govt High School, Brahmapur)
The Problem: India’s diverse spice blends are hard to replicate, leading to inconsistency and food waste in both homes and businesses.
The Solution: Masala GPT is an AI-driven dispenser that creates over 500 regional spice blends from just 10 base ingredients. Users simply input their taste preferences, and the system instantly delivers the perfect blend—just like having a master chef on demand!
Market Potential: The global spice market is valued at $18 billion and continues to grow. The startup plans to generate revenue through machine sales, subscription services for personalized blends, and partnerships with food brands.
Idea 4: S.O.B.A.D.Y – Self-Optimized Battery-Driven Autonomous Yielder
By Sai Satyam Pradhan
The Problem: Many rural and urban areas lack reliable electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, limiting clean transportation options.
The Solution: S.O.B.A.D.Y is an autonomous electric vehicle that generates its own power from solar, wind, and motion energy (wheel rotation and vibration), intelligently optimized using AI algorithms. It operates completely off-grid, offering a sustainable and independent mobility solution in energy-scarce regions.
Impact & Innovation: By eliminating reliance on external charging stations, S.O.B.A.D.Y could revolutionize clean transport in underserved areas—helping build a self-reliant EV ecosystem with environmental and economic benefits.
Idea 5: Eden: Where timeless Indian craftsmanship meets modern fashion, sustainably.
By Yagyanvalka Mishra
The Problem: Indian artisans are losing visibility and livelihoods as Western fast fashion takes over. Meanwhile, the fashion industry produces over 92 million tons of waste annually, despite the availability of sustainable alternatives. On top of that, millions struggle daily with styling outfits quickly and effectively.
The Solution: Eden bridges Indian heritage with modern style using natural fabrics, ethical dyes, and handcrafted fashion. Our upcoming product, EDEN AI, is a smart styling assistant that helps users create outfits instantly based on prompts, themes, or occasions—making fashion both effortless and meaningful.
Market Potential: With rising demand for sustainable, culturally rich, and personalized fashion, Eden sits at the intersection of eco-conscious living and fashion tech—appealing to both domestic and global audiences who value tradition and innovation.
Impact & Innovation: Eden empowers artisans, promotes eco-friendly fashion, and brings cultural heritage to the modern world. Through EDEN AI, we simplify daily fashion choices while supporting a more sustainable and inclusive future.
These student innovators represent the power of opportunity, access, and hands-on learning. We are incredibly proud of their journey from rural Odisha to the global innovation stage.
Stay tuned as they take their ideas to the world at the Global Junicorn & AI Summit!
