BizThon 2026 – A Marathon of Business Innovation was organised by Maktabah Jafariyah School of Management to provide students with an opportunity to develop business ideas, prepare structured business plans, and present their ventures before experienced professionals and academics.
The competition was designed to give aspiring entrepreneurs practical exposure to business planning, market understanding, financial thinking, presentation, and pitching. Through workshops, mentorship, and multiple stages of evaluation, participants were encouraged to refine their ideas and consider the practical aspects of developing a business.
The initiative also provided an opportunity for students from different institutions and academic backgrounds to interact, work in teams, and learn from professionals involved in entrepreneurship and business.
Expert Workshop (2 September 2026)
The Expert Workshop for BizThon 2026 was conducted at Maktabah Jafariyah School of Management on 2 September 2026, with 81 participants representing 27 teams from various institutions, including ICFAI Business School, Ganpat University, Gokul University, Sankalchand Patel University, along with participants from Maktabah Jafariyah and its cluster centres at Madinatul Ilm – Kishorgadh and Shekhpur. The workshop, titled “Business Plan: From Idea to Pitch”, focused on the fundamentals of developing a business plan and presenting a business idea effectively. The session covered areas such as identifying a business opportunity, understanding the target market, developing a value proposition, preparing financial projections, and presenting the idea before a jury.
Mr. Bhushan Mehta, Co-founder of Steadport International Pvt Ltd, conducted the expert session and shared practical observations from his experience in entrepreneurship, business development, and mentoring.
The workshop also helped participants understand the expectations of the subsequent stages of BizThon. Students were able to clarify their questions and receive guidance on improving their business ideas, business plans, and presentations.
Mentorship Sessions (7–18 September 2026)
Following the workshop, mentorship sessions were conducted online from 7 September 2026 to 18 September 2026. Participating teams received guidance from mentors with experience in different areas of business and entrepreneurship.
The mentorship sessions focused on helping teams review and improve their business ideas, understand their target customers, strengthen their business models, and work on the financial and operational aspects of their plans.
The mentors included:
• Mr. HasanAbbas Sunasara, Co-Founder, Infomatica Labs
• Mr. MahediHasan Savdi, Co-Founder, Intaj Industries
• Mr. VajirAli Momin, Group CEO, Hearty Mart
• Mr. AbidHusen Chudiya, Co-Founder, Wahda Tech
• Mr. AhesanAli Kadiwala, Managing Director, Kadiwala Group
• Mr. Chetan V. Patel, Secretary, SRISTI
• Mr. MahediHasan Dodiya, Lead Designer, Tooba Furniture Factory
• Mr. ImdadAli Kadiwala, Founder, Netzur
• Mr. AhemadAbbas Balospura, Founder & Chairman, eMed HealthTech
• Mr. HaidarAli Jangrala, Director, The Curen & ALZIBA CARES
• Mr. AbidHusein Saleh, Senior Manager, Birla Pivot
• Mr. Munawwar Hussain Shelia, Staff Engineer – Product Security, Qualcomm
• Mr. HasanAli Maknojiya, Managing Director, Earth Root Spices and Herbs LLP
• Mr. NajarHasan Momin, Founder, Pleasant Packaging
• Mr. Rahul Savaliya, Co-Founder, Steadport International Private Limited
• Mr. HyderAli Kharodia, Package Consultant, IBM
• Mr. NajarAli Rajpura, Senior Marketing Manager, GGEPIL – AFRF Business, Luthra Group
• Mr. Ahesanbhai, Owner, Hotel Pragati The Grand
• Mr. MahendiAli Kadiwala, Chief Executive Officer, Filcott Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Bhushan Mehta, Co-Founder, Steadport International
• Mr. MansurAli Tharadara, Head – Corporate Sales, Craloft
The sessions enabled participants to receive feedback on their ideas and make improvements before entering the competitive stages of BizThon.
Elimination Round (23–24 September 2026)
The Elimination Round of BizThon 2026 was conducted on 23 and 24 September 2026, with 27 teams comprising 81 students participating in the round.
The participating teams presented business ideas across a range of sectors, including SaaS, Handicrafts, Food & Beverage (F&B), Electrical Appliances, Recycling, Wellness, Waste Management, Microgreens, IT, Agriculture, Sharing Economy, Manpower Services, Food Processing, Semiconductor, Sustainable Packaging, Battery Recycling, IT & AI, Packaging, Tourism, and Service Providers.
The teams were evaluated on the basis of:
• Idea & Concept
• Financial Plan
• Marketing Plan
• Operational Plan
• Competitive Position & Advantage
• Team Competency
The evaluation was conducted by a panel of 3 judges, comprising professionals and experts from different fields:
• Dr. ImdadAli Momin, Chairman & MD, Gutsalve Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Ankush Pathania, Lead Programs and Events, iCreate
• CA AbidHusain Maredia, Chartered Accountant, Maredia & Co.
The teams presented their business plans before the jury and responded to questions relating to the feasibility, market potential, financial viability, operations and competitive position of their proposed ventures.
Following the evaluation, 10 teams were selected for the Grand Finale.
The finalist teams were:
1. SAHVAAS: It is a compassionate care and companionship platform that connects individuals and families with verified caregivers, ensuring trusted support, safety, and meaningful human connection when they need it most.
2. Crochet: Crochet is a form of handmade artwork that involves creating beautiful and creative designs using yarn and handwork techniques.
3. Gutwise: It is a health-focused beverage brand offering convenient, flavourful, fibre-rich Isabgul drinks for health-conscious consumers.
4. Roll Cook: A portable, foldable cooking mat that uses advanced heating technology to cook and warm food conveniently, making it ideal for hostel students, travellers, and outdoor use.
5. Pumpkin Nova: An outdoor heatshield patch is an affordable, heat-protective wearable patch that helps outdoor workers and travellers reduce direct heat exposure and alerts them when temperatures become excessively high.
6. IndNexus Solutions: It is a B2B single-window platform that coordinates corporate needs such as accommodation, transportation, hospitality, events, and project procurement through one integrated service.
7. TERRAVIVE: It is a sustainable AgriTech venture offering ROOTERA, a bio-based soil and plant nutrition solution designed to improve soil health, support root development, and promote sustainable crop growth.
8. Edible Tea/Coffee Cup: Edible cups are sustainable, zero-waste alternatives to conventional cups, made from food grains and designed to hold hot beverages before being enjoyed as a tasty, edible snack.
9. Pitalika Crafts: It is a heritage handicraft venture that transforms Visnagar’s traditional copper and brass craftsmanship into high-value lifestyle products, creating better market access and sustainable income for local artisans through D2C and B2B channels.
10. Agro-Technology: Aeroponic Saffron Farming is a soil-free vertical cultivation system that uses nutrient-rich mist and controlled indoor conditions to grow saffron efficiently while reducing water use and protecting crops from environmental risks.
Grand Finale (26 September 2026)
The Grand Finale of BizThon 2026 was held on 26 September 2026 at Auditorium Hall, with 10 finalist teams presenting their business plans before the final jury.
At the Grand Finale, the teams presented their ventures in greater detail, covering aspects such as their value proposition, target market, marketing strategy, financial plan, operational requirements, competitive advantage, and future growth plans.
The final jury comprised:
• Mr. Biswajit Adhikari, Sr. Vice President, AIC GUSEC – Atal Incubation Centre, Gujarat University
• Mr. Umar Mansuri, Founder & CEO, Intelspire Technologies
• Mr. NazarAli Sheliya, Director of Engineering, Dassault Systèmes
The jury evaluated the finalist teams on the basis of the prescribed criteria and also interacted with the participants regarding their business models, assumptions, financial projections, and plans for implementation.
The event was attended by distinguished guests from various educational institutions, members of CMCs, trustees of Ahmed Vikas Mandal, experts from the Department of Business Incubation, key representatives from the sponsoring companies of BizThon 2026, along with students and staff members of Maktabah Jafariyah.
The programme was also broadcast live for 560 students and guests from Maktabah Jafariyah cluster centres.
Winners
After the evaluation of the finalist teams, the following teams were declared the winners of BizThon 2026:
1. Agro-Technology: Dhruv Vaghela, Mehul Chavda, and Feni Patel won the first prize with a cash award of ₹25,000, a trophy, and a Memento.
2. Terravive: AbbasAli Sathiya, FazalMohammad Mukhi, and MohammadAli Kadiwala secured the second prize with ₹15,000 and a Memento.
3. Pumpkin Nova: ShahedaFatema Musamji, Farhin Musamji, and NoorFatema Kadiwala took the third prize with ₹10,000 and a memento.
The jury members addressed the participants following the presentations and shared their observations on the business ideas presented during the competition. They also offered practical suggestions on developing the ventures further and highlighted the importance of learning from the process of building and presenting a business idea.
Sponsors and Support
BizThon 2026 was supported by organisations and businesses that contributed towards the conduct of the competition.
Diamond Sponsors
• Ahad Solartech
• Naturry
• Inspire Software
• Anand Namkeen
• Matiya’s Solutions
Gold Sponsor
• Earth Root Spices and Herbs
Silver Sponsor
• Ilhaam Multiplast
The School of Management acknowledges the support of the sponsors, mentors, jury members, participating institutions, faculty members, students, and the various teams involved in organising and conducting BizThon 2026.
BizThon 2026 provided participating students with an opportunity to take their business ideas through different stages of development—from initial planning and expert guidance to mentorship, evaluation, and final presentation.
The competition brought together students, educators, entrepreneurs and professionals, creating a practical learning environment around business planning and entrepreneurship.
BizThon 2026 concluded with the recognition of the winning teams and the participation of all the finalists and participants who were part of the competition.
