Himalayan Startup Trek (HST) - 2026
Event Date and year: 1-4 January, 2026
Event brief description
The Himalayan Startup Trek (HST) 2025–26, organized by IIT Mandi Catalyst from 1–4 January 2026, was an immersive national-level startup program that brought together student founders, incubated startups, mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders in the Himalayan region. The four-day trek combined masterclasses, startup pitching, panel discussions, wellness sessions, and extensive networking to foster innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and founder readiness. Galgotias University students gained valuable exposure to advanced incubation practices, intellectual property strategy, government and industry engagement, and holistic entrepreneurship, making HST a transformative learning experience that strengthened their startup vision, confidence, and ecosystem integration.
Event Detailed Description
The participation of Galgotias University students and incubated startups in the Himalayan Startup Trek (HST) 2025–26 stands as a significant milestone in the university’s ongoing mission to nurture innovation-driven entrepreneurship. At the very outset, the entire Galgotias University startup ecosystem expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble CEO Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, Galgotias University, whose visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to building a world-class startup ecosystem made this opportunity possible. His continuous emphasis on experiential learning, national-level exposure, and strategic ecosystem partnerships enabled Galgotias University incubated startups to participate in one of India’s most immersive and intellectually enriching startup programs. The Himalayan Startup Trek was not merely an event, but a transformational journey that aligned perfectly with his vision of empowering young founders to think boldly, act responsibly, and build solutions with real-world impact.
This collaboration is expected to significantly strengthen the incubation infrastructure at Galgotias University by enabling access to advanced mentorship frameworks, structured acceleration programs, national-level investor networks, and best practices followed at IIT Mandi Catalyst.
It will play a pivotal role in accelerating research commercialization by transforming faculty- and student-led innovations into market-ready solutions through technical validation, intellectual property support, and industry linkage.
Day 4 – 4 January 2026: Reflection, Continuity, and Future Roadmap
The final day of the Himalayan Startup Trek focused on reflection and continuity beyond competition. Sessions led by Prof. Dipankar Deb, Director, IIT Mandi Catalyst and Mr. Anil Singh, CEO, IIT Mandi Catalyst addressed an important concern—how startups can continue to grow even if they did not win the Grand Challenge or CSR grants. This reassurance reinforced the philosophy that incubation is a long-term partnership. Mentor–startup roundtables and meetings with the NE team provided Galgotias University startups with personalized feedback, future incubation pathways, and potential collaboration opportunities. The trek concluded with a networking lunch, marking the end of a deeply enriching experience.
Introduction: The Spirit and Vision of the Himalayan Startup Trek
The Himalayan Startup Trek 2025–26, hosted by IIT Mandi Catalyst, was conceptualized as a unique blend of innovation, incubation, mentorship, wellness, and nature-driven reflection. Set amidst the serene and challenging terrain of the Himalayas, the trek provided an inspiring environment where founders, students, mentors, investors, and policymakers could come together to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and build meaningful collaborations.
For Galgotias University students, HST represented an opportunity to move beyond conventional academic learning and immerse themselves in a real startup ecosystem where ideas are tested, refined, and validated under expert guidance. The trek emphasized not only venture creation but also founder mindset, interdisciplinary research, intellectual property strategy, policy alignment, sustainability, and personal well-being—making it a holistic entrepreneurial experience.
Day 1 – 1 January 2026: Orientation, Technology Exposure, and Ecosystem Introduction
The trek commenced on Day 1 with a smooth and well-coordinated registration and check-in process, ensuring that participants from across the country, including the Galgotias University cohort, were comfortably settled. This initial phase allowed students to acclimatize to the environment and begin informal interactions with fellow participants, setting a collaborative tone from the very beginning.
The informal welcome session was led by Prof. Dipankar Deb, Director, IIT Mandi Catalyst and Anil Singh, CEO, IIT Mandi Catalyst, who jointly emphasized the philosophy of IIT Mandi Catalyst—where startups are viewed as long-term journeys rather than short-term funding pursuits. Their address helped Galgotias University students understand the importance of curiosity, resilience, and ethical innovation in entrepreneurship.
The first masterclass, “Beyond Funding: The Role of a Startup Catalyst” by Mr. Anil Singh, provided deep insights into how incubation centres function as strategic partners. Students learned that catalysts offer much more than capital—they provide validation, mentorship, policy navigation, investor readiness, and ecosystem access. This session helped Galgotias startups reframe their expectations from incubators and recognize the value of long-term institutional association.
The second masterclass of the day, “Building at Hack2skill – Vibe Coding using Gemini 3 and AI Studio” by Ms. Shweta Singh, Marketing & Brand Building, Hack2skill introduced participants to cutting-edge AI-powered development methodologies. Galgotias University students gained exposure to rapid prototyping, no-code/low-code environments, and the evolving role of AI tools in accelerating product development cycles.
Day 1 concluded with a networking dinner that encouraged informal conversations and peer bonding. For many Galgotias students, this was their first opportunity to interact directly with founders, mentors, and ecosystem leaders from premier institutions, helping them build confidence and professional networks in a relaxed setting.
Day 2 – 2 January 2026: Competitive Pitching, Deep Learning, and Cultural Immersion
Day 2 marked the formal immersion into the core activities of the Himalayan Startup Trek. The day began with an introduction meeting involving mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners.
This session helped Galgotias University students understand evaluation parameters, mentorship structures, and collaboration opportunities during the trek.
A major highlight of the day was the HST Grand Challenge Finale, conducted through closed-door pitching sessions across four thematic areas—Human-Computer Interaction, Build for Himalayas, Environment & Sustainability, and Bio Innovation. Galgotias startups actively participated in these parallel tracks, presenting their ideas before expert panels. The experience challenged students to articulate their problem statements clearly, justify market relevance, and demonstrate technological feasibility. Constructive feedback from mentors helped refine their business models and sharpen their value propositions.
The learning journey continued with a series of insightful sessions. The talk on Interdisciplinary Research and Integrated Startup Solutions by Deo Krishna emphasized the importance of cross-domain collaboration, inspiring Galgotias students to think beyond siloed approaches. The session on Thrico SaaS: Building Community-Led Brands by Deepak Rai highlighted how trust, engagement, and storytelling play a crucial role in scaling digital platforms.
A particularly impactful masterclass was “Patent Strategy from Innovation to Business Value” by Shri Devansh, Founder & Head of Operations, Patent Panacea which sensitized students to the strategic importance of intellectual property. This was complemented by founder stories such as “How the Young Innovator Fellow Program Powered My Startup Journey” by Dharkan Anand, which demonstrated how structured fellowships and institutional backing can accelerate startup growth.
The day further included sessions on industrial automation with physical AI, government client engagement, and technology commercialization, giving Galgotias University students exposure to diverse market pathways. Post-lunch, the Grand Challenge continued with additional thematic tracks, including the Indian Knowledge System, reinforcing the relevance of indigenous knowledge in modern innovation.
The Startup Spotlight Series, curated by Prof. Dipankar Deb, Director, IIT Mandi Catalyst emerged as a deeply reflective segment where founders shared personal journeys involving trekking for ideas, building deep tech with patience, pivoting with frugality, mindfulness practices, and operating in regulated markets. These narratives resonated strongly with students, emphasizing that entrepreneurship is as much an inner journey as it is a commercial one.
The trek to provide a moment of cultural immersion and reflection, symbolizing balance between ambition and mindfulness. The day concluded with an advanced masterclass on agent building using ADK by Ms. Usha Rengaraju and a networking dinner that strengthened ecosystem relationships.
Day 3 – 3 January 2026: Strategic Vision, Institutional Collaboration, and National Perspective
Day 3 began with a powerful masterclass by Prof. Dipankar Deb, Director, IIT Mandi Catalyst titled “Married to the Prototype, Blind to the User and Late to the Patent Office”. This session cautioned founders against common early-stage pitfalls and encouraged a balanced focus on users, markets, and IP readiness.
The panel discussion on Founder–Incubator Relationships was moderated by Mr. Sombodhi Ghosh, Co-Founder, Hito Robotics and featured experienced founders from IIT Mandi Catalyst. The discussion highlighted trust, momentum, and partnership as key pillars of successful incubation. Galgotias University students gained practical insights into managing expectations and leveraging incubator support effectively.
The formal inauguration ceremony added a cultural and philosophical dimension through Bhagavad Gita chanting and Saraswati Vandana. The welcome address by Prof. Dipankar Deb set the stage for strategic discussions, followed by an inspiring address by Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi who emphasized the role of research-driven innovation in national development.
A landmark moment for Galgotias University occurred during the address by Prof. Ankush Mittal, Vice Chancellor, Galgotias University when an MoU was signed between Galgotias University and IIT Mandi to establish the IIT Mandi Catalyst Satellite Centre at Galgotias University.
The address by Dr. Pramod K Satyawali, Director, DRDO provided a national perspective on defense innovation, indigenous technology development, and startup engagement with government and strategic sectors. The day continued with advanced masterclasses on IP strategies for software and AI startups, yoga and chakra techniques for founder well-being, and the evolving expectations of the industrial automation sector in the era of agentic AI
The announcement of Grand Challenge and CSR Grant winners concluded the day on a celebratory note, motivating all participants to persist in their entrepreneurial journey
Department Name – GICRISE
Event Outcome
The Himalayan Startup Trek 2025–26 proved to be a transformative experience for Galgotias University students and incubated startups. It strengthened their entrepreneurial mindset, enhanced technical and strategic understanding, and expanded their professional networks. Most importantly, it reaffirmed the university’s commitment—under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble CEO Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, Galgotias University—to nurturing resilient, ethical, and impact-driven entrepreneurs.
With the establishment of the IIT Mandi Catalyst Satellite Centre at Galgotias University, the learnings and collaborations initiated during HST are poised to translate into sustained startup growth and innovation leadership in the years to come.
Related Goal