Shreekant Patil Mentors Student Innovators at Eureka 2026 Pitching Event

Shreekant Patil, a renowned Startup India Mentor and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC, Skill India) master trainer, recently served as a jury member and mentor at the E-Cell, IIT Bombay’s Eureka 2026 pitching event, held at K. K. Wagh Institute of Engineering Education and Research (KKWIEER) in Nashik. The event, which attracted over 36 teams, aimed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among student innovators.

During the event, Patil, who has dedicated years to mentoring founders in Nashik and wider regions, was felicitated by Dr. Keshav Nandurkar, the Director of KKWIEER, for his continued dedication to nurturing young minds. Patil’s role involved evaluating the teams based on a comprehensive Jury Evaluation Framework that focused on the novelty, clarity, and innovation of their ideas, as well as the practicality, market viability, business model, and team resilience.

Patil observed that many participants were initially unaware of structured pitching frameworks. To address this gap, he emphasized the importance of colleges proactively guiding students on how to pitch effectively in hackathons. He suggested that timeframes should be strictly managed to ensure pitches are completed within allocated limits, and that both novelty and solid business models should be prioritized.

Beyond the event, Patil extended his support by inviting colleges across the region to reach out for dedicated mentorship and guidance on nurturing pitch-ready student startups. His commitment to transforming college campuses into hubs of ambitious, market-ready entrepreneurs is evident through his involvement in initiatives like E-Cell, IIT Bombay’s NEC, Eureka 2026.

Shreekant Patil’s impact extends beyond this single event. He has been a mentor at Eureka, IIT Bombay, for the past three consecutive years, and has established pre-incubation and skill centers within campuses to foster early-stage ideation and execution. As a Skill India and NSDC Master Trainer, Patil directly empowers students to enhance their real-world skill sets, shaping entrepreneurial talent at regional, national, and international levels.

The event, organized by Team Tattva (the Entrepreneurship Cell) at KKWIEER, showcased a diverse range of raw ideas and fully implemented products, reflecting the high level of innovation and creativity among student innovators. Patil’s mentorship and guidance are crucial in equipping these young minds with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the startup ecosystem.