Next Gen Minds Competition Unites India’s Young Innovators in AI
Bangalore,1st April , 2025 – As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries worldwide, JAGSoM is proud to announce the launch of Next Gen Minds, a national competition designed to showcase human creativity and innovation in an increasingly automated world. This entrepreneurial challenge invites undergraduate students and recent graduates to prove that human ingenuity remains unmatched even as technology advances.
Next Gen Minds goes beyond traditional case competitions by challenging participants to push boundaries and create bold solutions at the intersection of business, technology, and social impact. The competition serves as a platform for ambitious students to showcase their business understanding and innovative thinking on a national stage.
Dr. Venkatesh Sunkad, Director at JAGSoM, emphasized the competition’s role in promoting innovation, “Next Gen Minds is not just a case competition—it is a platform to inspire young minds to think beyond conventional solutions and embrace the challenges of an AI-driven world. At JAGSoM, we believe that human ingenuity, creativity, and strategic thinking are irreplaceable. This competition is a testament to our commitment to nurturing future leaders who can seamlessly integrate technology and business to drive meaningful impact.”
The competition offers substantial rewards, including cash prizes totaling ₹1,75,000, with the winning team receiving ₹1,00,000. Additionally, top performers will have access to scholarship opportunities worth up to ₹50 lakh for JAGSoM programs, along with valuable networking opportunities with industry leaders and entrepreneurs.
Eligibility for the competition includes undergraduate students graduating in 2025 and 2026, as well as recent graduates from the 2022, 2023, and 2024 batches. Participants must be pursuing or have completed eligible courses such as BBA/BMS, B.Com, B.Sc, BCA, or B.Tech. Teams can consist of one to three members and can be formed across different courses, colleges, and graduation years.
Commenting on JAGSoM’s Next-Gen Minds Competition 2025, the CEO and Founder of Apna, Nirmit Parikh, stated, “At Apna, our mission goes beyond employment – we aim to empower early talent with the skills, resources, and mindset to become future leaders and entrepreneurs. Initiatives like JAGSoM’s Next-Gen Minds 2025 are instrumental in nurturing this spirit of innovation, providing students with a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial vision. We are excited to collaborate with JAGSoM and celebrate the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”
The competition will unfold in three rounds, beginning with an Online MCQ Assessment on April 2, 2025. In this preliminary round, team leaders will attempt 30 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, focusing on data interpretation, logical reasoning, and critical thinking. Teams that advance will participate in Round 2 from April 4-11, 2025, where they will submit a structured case solution of maximum 2,500 words.
For the grand finale on April 27, 2025, the top-performing teams will be invited to JAGSoM Campus in Bengaluru to present their detailed case solutions to a distinguished jury. The finalist’s presentations will be evaluated based on originality, practicality, impact, business viability, and clarity of presentation.
With over 3,900 registered participants already, Next Gen Minds is poised to be one of India’s most competitive student events of the year. Registration is free and will remain open until April 1, 2025.
The Next Gen Minds competition represents JAGSoM’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of business leaders who can navigate the complex intersection of technology and human innovation. By providing this national platform, JAGSoM aims to identify and develop talent that will shape India’s future in an AI-driven world.
As technology continues to evolve, competitions like Next Gen Minds highlight the enduring value of human creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving, skills that remain irreplaceable even in an age of advanced artificial intelligence.
Apna.co & AICTE Empower 3.5 Lakh Students, Facilitate 8 Lakh+ Job Applications
New Delhi: 15th, February 2025: Apna.Co, India’s leading jobs and professional networking platform, in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), has successfully facilitated employability prospects for lakhs of students across the country. Through the partnership, 3.5 lakh students across 6,000 colleges have been empowered with career opportunities in just 9 months, bridging the gap between education and employment.
The AICTE Career Portal, launched as part of this collaboration, has become a transformative force in connecting students with verified job opportunities. It has enabled over 8 lakh job applications across 44,000+ companies, including top industry giants like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HDFC Bank, Deloitte, and Tata Motors. Moreover, with 1.6 lakh job opportunities lined up for campus hiring between March and June 2025, the career portal is set to create a seamless bridge from graduation to employment, unlocking career pathways for millions of students.
Through the AICTE Career Portal, students have been able to develop industry-relevant skills, with top technical skills in demand, including Python, Java, C++, data analytics, SQL, cloud computing (AWS, Azure), cybersecurity, and AI/ML. The most sought-after soft skills remain communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Sector-wise, job demand has been the highest in Technology & IT Services, BFSI, Retail & E-commerce, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Logistics, underlining the need for a skilled and future-ready workforce.
The Career Portal has also addressed key hiring challenges, particularly for students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, by eliminating geographical barriers and ensuring equal access to job opportunities. Additionally, free career masterclasses attended by over 30,000 students have helped bridge skill gaps, offering guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and emerging technologies.
Building on the success of this initiative, Apna.Co and AICTE conducted CampusInc 2025, a landmark event which brought together industry, government, and academia to shape India’s future workforce. Held on 13th February 2025 at the AICTE auditorium in Delhi, the event witnessed 300+ delegates and over 12 distinguished speakers, including Sonali Misra (VP – Talent and Head of HR, Bain & Co.), Vineet Tandon (Director, Global Talent Marketing, HCL Tech), Gautam Duggal (Director, People Strategy & Business Partnering, Mastercard), Nidhi Pasricha (Associate Director, EY), Kushendra Singh (Head Talent Acquisition – India & South West Asia Coca Cola), Misal (TA Head ECR & Audit, KPMG), Dr. Safia Farooqui (Director, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Centre for Online Learning), Abhijeet Anand (Business Head – Early Careers, Apna.co), Siddharth Anand (Head, Enterprise Marketing, Apna.co) and Dr. Preet Deep Singh (VP, Apna.co), among others. Nirmit Parikh, Founder and CEO of Apna.co and Honorary Professor T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, also delivered the keynote addresses.
The event featured panel discussions exploring a wide range of topics, including AI, Tech & Automation: Industry Expectations from Campus Talent & Academia and Employing India’s Largest Generation: Strategies to Hire & Skill GenZ, offering deep insights into the evolving employment landscape.
Apna.co is on a mission to build a future where every student, irrespective of their background, has an equal opportunity to thrive in the professional world,” said Nirmit Parikh, Founder and CEO of Apna.co. “Our collaboration with AICTE is a testament to the power of technology in bridging skill gaps and making employment more accessible. CampusInc 2025 marked a significant milestone in this journey, bringing together key stakeholders to drive India’s workforce transformation. The event fostered impactful discussions that are set to shape hiring strategies and upskilling efforts for the next generation of professionals
Honorary Professor T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, added, “By bridging academia and industry, we are shaping a future-ready workforce equipped to navigate emerging challenges. CampusInc 2025 served as a key platform for driving impactful discussions on India’s talent pipeline, ensuring students gain the skills needed for the digital age. Our continued partnership with Apna.co will be instrumental in transforming quality education into meaningful career opportunities.”
The success of Apna.co’s collaboration with AICTE marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and dynamic job market while reinforcing the two organisations’ shared vision towards creating a robust workforce across India.