Emerging innovators will present solutions to real-world problems at this year’s TEDxPanaji 2025 Innovation Hub Pitching Contest
ADITHI SHARMA | NT BUZZ
TEDxPanaji 2025 brings more than just talks. It is also spotlighting the power of invention and initiative through its ‘Innovation Hub Pitching Contest’.
Conceived as a platform for problem solvers across Goa and beyond, the contest is set to bring together finalists selected for the originality, impact, and feasibility of their ideas; at the offline section of the event to be held at BIZ Nest, Patto, Panaji today.
“We began with a simple question—where do Goa’s brightest ideas go to be seen?” says the project director of the Innovation Hub and founder of Decision Tree Consulting, Pawan Sharma. “TEDxPanaji, with its ethos of ‘ideas worth spreading’ felt like the perfect space to celebrate and elevate the innovation efforts in the state.”
The Innovation Hub will showcase working prototypes and proof-of-concept models that address timely challenges, ranging from AI-era content visibility to discreet safety solutions.
Among the participants is Akshay Badkar, who will pitch EnGenius AI, a content optimisation tool designed for the age of generative search. “Content creators are becoming invisible,” explains Badkar. “Search engines powered by AI like ChatGPT or Google’s Overviews are summarising information without linking to the original sources. This is costing websites their visibility and revenue.” EnGenius AI will address this through Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)—a new frontier in digital visibility.
“Our tool will analyse, benchmark, and enhance web content so that it appears in AI-generated answers,” he says. Another participant, Pranav Bhat, will present GatherX, a digital platform that connects large event organisers with student volunteers.
Based on his experience both volunteering and organising, Bhat will demonstrate how the platform streamlines recruitment, training, and real-time coordination through digital workflows. “We’ve built smart-matching algorithms, pre-event training modules, and live tracking tools,” he says. “It’s a win-win—organisers improve efficiency, and students gain practical experience.”
Health innovation will also take centre stage with Roshan Naik, who will pitch his Rapid Diagnostic Test for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). His innovation will promise results in just six hours, instead of the standard 48-hour lab wait.
“The delay in results often leads doctors to prescribe antibiotics blindly, which contributes to growing resistance,” says Naik. His point-of-care test, which has completed clinical validation, will be showcased as an accessible and affordable alternative for smaller clinics, especially in rural areas.
Swizel Agnes Mascarenhas’ innovation Gelo meanwhile offers a human-centred social networking app that focuses on authenticity, intent, and hyper-local interaction. “Most existing platforms are overwhelming, filled with unverified profiles and shallow interactions,” she says. “Gelo changes that with verified users, behaviour-first discovery, and curated offline events. It’s about helping people make meaningful connections wherever they are.”
Safety in vulnerable situations will be the focus of Veleston Rato, who will present Silent SOS, a discreet emergency response system. “Goa has witnessed a rise in distress situations—accidents, kidnappings—and often, victims cannot make a full emergency call,” says Rato. His solution will allow users to silently trigger alerts through inconspicuous phone inputs. With plans to collaborate with law enforcement and integrate the system into wearable tech, Silent SOS will be positioned as a crucial intervention tool.
Looking to the future, Sharma hopes the Innovation Hub will evolve into a larger ecosystem.
“We want this to become a full-day innovation expo—with startup booths, investor panels, tech demos, and mentorship zones. Our vision is to help innovators build connections that can translate into funding, collaboration, and real impact,” he says.
