From Ideas to Innovation: AIT Startup Challenge 2026 Celebrates Student Entrepreneurship
By: Prajakta Mandelkar and Amanda Townshend
27 entries, five live pitches, and promising business ideas took centre stage at the AIT Startup Challenge 2026.
On 3 October 2026, the AIT School of Management (SOM), in collaboration with the AIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub (AIEhub), hosted Pitch Your Venture: AIT Startup Challenge 2026, bringing together aspiring student entrepreneurs eager to turn their innovative ideas into real-world business opportunities.
Held at the AIT School of Management, the event provided a platform for students to showcase their entrepreneurial potential, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights from experienced academics and industry professionals.
From 27 Entries to Five Live Pitches
The competition attracted 27 entries from AIT students, each presenting a unique business concept with the potential to address real-world challenges. Participants were invited to apply individually or in teams by submitting a Business Model Canvas and a two-minute pitch video outlining their proposed ventures.
Following a preliminary evaluation by eight internal evaluators, six finalists were shortlisted based on four key criteria: market opportunity and value proposition, social impact and sustainability, technology application, and business viability.
Five of the six shortlisted finalists were able to participate in the live competition, where they presented their ideas to a panel of judges and responded to questions about their proposed solutions, business strategies, and potential for growth.
More Than Just a Pitch Competition
Beyond the competition itself, the event was an opportunity for students to connect, learn, and gain inspiration from the wider entrepreneurial community. The day began with interactive icebreaker activities, including speed pitching, which encouraged participants to introduce themselves, exchange ideas, and build connections.
Participants also heard from Dr. Manuka Singh, SOM alumna, and Prof. Yuosre Badir, Dean of AIT School of Management who made an appearance at the wedding. Adding an entrepreneurial perspective was Ms. Vo Thanh Loan, SOM student, founder of the AMOUR fashion brand also shared her remarks with participants.
Throughout the event, interactive games and Mentimeter activities kept the audience engaged, creating a lively and collaborative atmosphere. The finalists then took the spotlight, presenting their ventures to a judging panel comprising:
Dr. Aida N. Karazhanova, Regional Architect of Digital Transformation and Responsible AI
Dr. Lakeesha K. Ransom, Management Faculty, AIT School of Management
The judges provided constructive feedback and thought-provoking questions, helping participants identify opportunities to refine their ideas and strengthen their business models.
Celebrating the Winners of AIT Startup Challenge 2026
After an exciting round of presentations, five student ventures were recognized for their entrepreneurial potential, with a combined THB 40,000 in cash prizes awarded.
Winner – THB 15,000
Nomrota Sarker | Wastaurant
First Runner-Up – THB 10,000
Pandharee Kongpool and Sarah Ouahnich | WeCaire
Second Runner-Up – THB 5,000
Anchal Pandey and team | PawSync AI
Special Prize Awards – THB 5,000 each
Deep Oza and Avnish Shankar | Student’s Hive
Htut Ko Ko | ezAMC
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for their creativity, dedication, and willingness to take their entrepreneurial ideas to the next level!
The Entrepreneurial Journey Continues
While the competition celebrated promising student ventures, the journey does not end here.
Looking ahead, Dr. Khanh Nguyen, Co-Founder of NEAX AI and HiliosAI, will support follow-up funding opportunities for AIT Startup Challenge participants based on their market readiness and traction. A follow-up competition is also planned for the first quarter of 2027, providing participants with another opportunity to further develop their concepts, demonstrate progress, and explore the potential of their ventures.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
The AIT Startup Challenge 2026 demonstrated that entrepreneurship begins with the courage to explore an idea, challenge assumptions, and take the first step toward bringing a solution to life.
Through pitching, networking, and constructive feedback, participants gained valuable experience that extends beyond the classroom.
AIT School of Management and AIEhub extend their sincere appreciation to the judges, speakers, participants, and organizing team for making the event possible. Special thanks go to Ms. Vo Thanh Loan, founder of AMOUR, for her support and sharing her insights at the event.
Congratulations once again to all participants! We look forward to seeing how these promising ideas continue to grow and develop.
