Media Release
Mangaluru, Jul 23: AIC Nitte Incubation Centre, promoted by Nitte Education Trust in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and located at NMAM Institute of Technology, a constituent college of Nitte (Deemed to be University), has achieved a remarkable national milestone with three of its incubated startups being selected among the 26 innovators from across India for the prestigious Grassroots Innovator Recognition 2026. The selected innovators Akshay Mashelkar of Experimind Labs Pvt Ltd, Anusha Prajwal of MaVedas Foods and Cereals Pvt Ltd, and Rathnakar Naik of WWR Innovations Pvt Ltd will be felicitated by the President of India on July 31 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, recognising their outstanding contributions towards solving grassroots challenges through innovation.
Operating from a Tier-3 ecosystem, AIC Nitte Incubation Centre has emerged as a catalyst for grassroots and technology-driven innovation by identifying, nurturing and scaling ideas that originate from real-life challenges faced by farmers, rural communities and local entrepreneurs. Through structured incubation, expert mentorship, funding access and industry linkages, the centre empowers innovators to transform practical solutions into sustainable enterprises with national impact. Over the years, AIC Nitte Incubation Centre has supported more than 137 startups, enabling them to build scalable solutions across agriculture, healthcare, education, food technology and rural livelihoods. In addition to supporting startups, the centre has fostered a vibrant innovation ecosystem that offers students of Nitte University and other higher education institutions in the region, opportunities to engage with startups through internships, live projects, mentorship and entrepreneurial learning. Its strong emphasis on inclusive innovation has helped bridge the gap between grassroots ideas and market-ready products, proving that transformative innovation can emerge from villages and small towns when supported by the right ecosystem.
Among the selected innovators is Rathnakar Naik, a farmer from Karkala and founder of WWR Innovations Pvt Ltd. Drawing from over 25 years of practical experience in electronics and automation, Rathnakar developed ATMAS (Automatic Tank Monitoring and Automation System), a smart wireless water level controller designed to solve one of the most common challenges faced by farmers and rural households—efficient water management. Using long-range LoRa communication technology, ATMAS functions without the need for SIM cards or Wi-Fi, making it ideal for remote agricultural regions. The system automatically monitors water levels, prevents tank overflows, protects pumps from dry running, minimises electrical hazards and reduces unnecessary water and electricity consumption. Developed through firsthand understanding of farmers' day-to-day problems, the innovation demonstrates how simple, affordable and locally relevant technologies can create significant environmental and economic impact.
The second innovator, Anusha Prajwal, founder of MaVedas Foods and Cereals Pvt Ltd, has revived traditional Ayurvedic nutritional knowledge by transforming age-old family recipes into scientifically standardised food products for maternal and infant health. Her venture develops chemical-free, preservative-free and ready-to-consume nutritional foods designed for pregnancy, postpartum recovery and infant nutrition. Signature products such as Methi Sathva and Bananthi Leha combine traditional formulations with modern food safety standards to provide nutritious and convenient alternatives for mothers. Beyond healthcare, the enterprise also empowers rural women through local sourcing and production while preserving India's rich food heritage. By integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific validation, MaVedas exemplifies how grassroots wisdom can be transformed into sustainable enterprises that address pressing public health challenges.
The third selected innovator, Akshay Mashelkar, founder and CEO of Experimind Labs Pvt Ltd, is redefining STEM education through experiential learning. Driven by the vision of building an India where every child learns science and mathematics fearlessly, Experimind develops hands-on STEM kits, science models, educational toys and activity-based learning solutions that simplify complex concepts and encourage curiosity. Having worked extensively with children in rural and underserved communities, Akshay recognised that talent exists everywhere, but opportunities do not. His innovation seeks to bridge this divide by making quality STEM education engaging, affordable and accessible to every child. By nurturing scientific temper, creativity and problem-solving skills from an early age, Experimind is creating a strong foundation for the next generation of innovators emerging from grassroots communities.
The selection of three innovators from a single incubation centre is a significant milestone for AIC Nitte Incubation Centre and Karnataka's startup ecosystem. The three ventures spanning water management, maternal and infant nutrition, and STEM education reflect the diversity and impact of grassroots innovation emerging from coastal Karnataka. Their success underscores the vital role of incubation centres in identifying promising ideas, nurturing entrepreneurs and transforming local innovations into scalable enterprises with national impact. It also reinforces AIC Nitte Incubation Centre's commitment to fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs, creates meaningful opportunities for students and strengthens the culture of innovation across the region.