Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 3: Somaiya Vidyavihar University is set to host the Somaiya Innovation and Impact Festival (SIIF) 2025 on February 21st and 22nd at its sprawling 60+ acre zero-waste campus. This two-day event aims to bring together startups, innovators, and changemakers to foster collaborative innovation for a sustainable future.
The festival integrates Somaiya Vidyavihar University’s flagship events—Maker Mela, Darwin, and Nazariya—into a unified platform promoting impact-driven innovation.
Some key highlights include:
Mumbai’s Water Crisis Solution – Mentorship sessions with Dr. Subhajit Mukherjee on tackling the city’s water challenges
Samaaj Sarkar and Bazaar Round Table – Curated by Blue Ribbon Movement and Mumbai Donut Colab
XR Hackathon – Led by Krupalu Mehta, Founder & CEO of Parallax Labs, in collaboration with Team Vision, K J Somaiya School of Engineering
SnapAR Immersive Experience Zone – Powered by XDG
XR & AI Experience Hive – Exploring cutting-edge immersive technologies
KJSPARC’s 2nd International Physiotherapy Conference
The Art Hive – Featuring creative workshops
Under 25 Summit – Supported by Zerodha
Sustainable Fashion & Lifestyle Meetup – Showcasing eco-friendly innovations in the fashion industry
Innovation & Impact Storytelling Contest – A reel-based competition
Launch of the Somaiya Angel Network – Supporting startup funding and growth
Frelo Portfolio 101 – An event to propel design careers
Drone and XR Gaming Zones – Fun and engaging tech experiences
In addition to these, SIIF 2025 will host immersive workshops, thought-provoking installations, and cultural celebrations that showcase Mumbai’s unique creative landscape.
"At Somaiya Vidyavihar, we believe fostering a culture of innovation and impact is essential to addressing future challenges. The Somaiya Innovation & Impact Festival exemplifies our dedication to nurturing creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration across disciplines. It reflects our vision of a world where knowledge leads to action and progress."
Dr. Irfan N A Siddavatam, Professor & Director, Somaiya School of Design, highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of design, adding:
"Design is inherently multidisciplinary, shaping solutions with aesthetics and purpose. Events like SIIF empower individuals to integrate design thinking into problem-solving and create impactful solutions that drive innovation."
Gaurang Shetty, Chief Innovation Catalyst, riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar, shared:
"SIIF 2025 is a celebration of transformative ideas and collaboration. By fostering impact-driven innovation, we aim to create an ecosystem where startups, innovators, and thought leaders thrive and leave a lasting imprint on society."
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this pioneering festival! Apply before February 10, 2025.
A Festival Rooted in Nature’s Wisdom
Inspired by nature, this year’s theme, “Empowering Communities through Conversations, Collaborations, and Creativity,” draws parallels with the collective intelligence of bees, emphasizing the power of teamwork in achieving transformative success. Applications for participation are open until February 10, 2025.A Unified Platform for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
SIIF 2025 is an initiative of Somaiya Vidyavihar University, organized by the Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory Foundation (riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar) and the Somaiya School of Design, with support from the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.The festival integrates Somaiya Vidyavihar University’s flagship events—Maker Mela, Darwin, and Nazariya—into a unified platform promoting impact-driven innovation.
Notable Speakers & Thought Leaders
SIIF 2025 will feature a distinguished lineup of industry leaders and changemakers, including:- Shantanu Deshpande, Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company – Keynote Speaker
- Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Founder & Chairman, Hiranandani Group – Speaking at the Sustainable Fashion & Lifestyle Hive
- Saiwyn Quadras, Acclaimed Indian Screenwriter – Jury Member for the Innovation & Impact Storytelling Contest
- Dr. Shiva Subramaniam, Co-founder & Director of Innovation at Biomimicry Compass – Mentoring the Fablab Hive and delivering a keynote at the KJSPARC Physiotherapy Conference
- Achyut Palav, Renowned Calligraphy Expert – Leading hands-on creative workshops
Immersive Experiences & Key Attractions
During the festival, the campus will be transformed into dynamic “hives”, each dedicated to different sectors of innovation, including Sustainable Fashion & Lifestyle, Fablab, Wellness, XR, AI, Art, Design, Physiotherapy, and a special Mumbai Hive.Some key highlights include:
Mumbai’s Water Crisis Solution – Mentorship sessions with Dr. Subhajit Mukherjee on tackling the city’s water challenges Samaaj Sarkar and Bazaar Round Table – Curated by Blue Ribbon Movement and Mumbai Donut Colab XR Hackathon – Led by Krupalu Mehta, Founder & CEO of Parallax Labs, in collaboration with Team Vision, K J Somaiya School of Engineering SnapAR Immersive Experience Zone – Powered by XDG XR & AI Experience Hive – Exploring cutting-edge immersive technologies KJSPARC’s 2nd International Physiotherapy Conference The Art Hive – Featuring creative workshops Under 25 Summit – Supported by Zerodha Sustainable Fashion & Lifestyle Meetup – Showcasing eco-friendly innovations in the fashion industry Innovation & Impact Storytelling Contest – A reel-based competition Launch of the Somaiya Angel Network – Supporting startup funding and growth Frelo Portfolio 101 – An event to propel design careers Drone and XR Gaming Zones – Fun and engaging tech experiencesIn addition to these, SIIF 2025 will host immersive workshops, thought-provoking installations, and cultural celebrations that showcase Mumbai’s unique creative landscape.
Leadership Speaks on SIIF’s Vision
Shri Samir Somaiya, Chancellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, emphasized the university’s commitment to innovation, stating:"At Somaiya Vidyavihar, we believe fostering a culture of innovation and impact is essential to addressing future challenges. The Somaiya Innovation & Impact Festival exemplifies our dedication to nurturing creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration across disciplines. It reflects our vision of a world where knowledge leads to action and progress."
Dr. Irfan N A Siddavatam, Professor & Director, Somaiya School of Design, highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of design, adding:
"Design is inherently multidisciplinary, shaping solutions with aesthetics and purpose. Events like SIIF empower individuals to integrate design thinking into problem-solving and create impactful solutions that drive innovation."
Gaurang Shetty, Chief Innovation Catalyst, riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar, shared:
"SIIF 2025 is a celebration of transformative ideas and collaboration. By fostering impact-driven innovation, we aim to create an ecosystem where startups, innovators, and thought leaders thrive and leave a lasting imprint on society."
Past Success Stories
The previous edition of Maker Mela witnessed groundbreaking innovations, with success stories like:- Tusk by Nikunj Choudhari and Atul Zanjurne – Secured INR 10 Lakhs MSInS Seed Fund and was selected for CES 2025 in Las Vegas
- WatchOut Wearables by Abhishek Baheti and Noopur Baheti – Named Maker of the Year at Maker Mela 2024 and selected for CES 2025
- Ayka Control Systems by Jash Sheth and Mihir Bhanushali – Winners at the Innovation Challenge Demo Day by Panasonic India in collaboration with T-Hub
A Call to Action for Change-Makers
With a focus on collaboration, creativity, and impact-driven innovation, SIIF 2025 aims to be a transformative platform for startups, innovators, and thought leaders to build a sustainable future.Don’t miss your chance to be part of this pioneering festival! Apply before February 10, 2025.
