The 12th ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards Recognizes Three Innovative Entrepreneurial Ventures

Celebrating visionary entrepreneurs who are driving transformative innovations to tackle real-world challenges, CavinKare, in partnership with the Madras Management Association (MMA), proudly hosted the 12th edition of the
Chinnikrishnan Innovation Awards 2023 today at IIT Research Park Auditorium, Chennai. This annual event, dedicated to discovering hidden entrepreneurial talents, acknowledged and celebrated the accomplishments of three innovative ventures.

Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India Limited, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, alongside Mr. CK Ranganathan, Chairman & Managing Director of CavinKare and K Mahalingam, President MMA. In recognition of their outstanding contributions towards innovation, the winners were also presented with a cash reward of ₹1 lakh each by CavinKare along with trophy and citation.

Addressing the audience, CK Ranganathan, Chairman & Managing Director of CavinKare Pvt. Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It is indeed a wonderful experience to celebrate the brilliance of these innovators whose creations not only ignite creativity but also address significant real-world challenges. The ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards recognizes their dedication to finding practical solutions that reshape the way we address complexities. In a rapidly evolving world, their achievements remind us that innovation is a driving force for positive change. As we honour their accomplishments, we are inspired to harness the potential of innovation within ourselves and contribute to solving the pressing issues of our time. Congratulations to these exceptional winners, whose unwavering commitment to making a difference serves as a guiding light for us all.”

The call for nominations process received an overwhelming response, with more than 210 applications from across the country. Nominees underwent rigorous scrutiny and interviews, following stringent guidelines streamlined by the process advisor, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas. The distinguished panel of jurors for this prestigious award included prominent leaders from various regions of the nation:

Mr. P. Elango, Managing Director, Hindustan Oil Exploration Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Natesh Balakrishna, Managing Director, South Asia, AS APAC, Dormakaba India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Lakshminarayanan Duraiswamy, Managing Director, Sundaram Home Finance Ltd.

Ms. Mridula Ramesh, CEO, Sundaram Climate Institute & Executive Director, Sundaram Textiles.

1. Trestle Labs Pvt Ltd
Innovators Name : Mr. Bonny Dave and Ms. Akshita Sachdeva
Innovation: Kibo (Knowledge-in-a-Box) is an AI-powered patented end-to-end product suite that allows users to listen, translate, digitize and audiotize content from printed, handwritten or digital format across 60 global languages including 13 regional Indian languages. This technology makes education and employment inclusive for everyone with language and learning disabilities like blindness, low-vision and dyslexia. This innovation has impacted more than 1 lakh individuals, including 600+ educational institutions, NGOs and businesses.

2. MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Innovators Name : Mr. Arvind Bhardwaj – Founder and Mr. Anupam Kumar – Co-founder
Innovation : MiniMines provides sustainable solutions for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. Their proprietary technology—called ‘Hybrid Hydrometallurgy’—can help recover up to 96% of all materials found in lithium-ion batteries, thereby reducing the environmental impact of discarded batteries and creating a circular economy that preserves critical resources. This innovation helped in creating a reversible supply chain and generating huge employment opportunities.

3. Alfaleus Technology Pvt Ltd
Innovators Name : Mr. Sandal Kotawala
Innovation: Intelligent Vision Analyser (iVA) is a virtual reality-based device for screening and diagnosing glaucoma. When placed around a patient’s head, this device helps in giving regular updates to the patient and doctor, thereby making glaucoma testing accessible, affordable, and available. This innovation is a boon for the 12 million Indians suffering from glaucoma, and it has already reached far flung regions of the country.

Established in 2011 as a tribute to the Late Shri R. Chinnikrishnan, whose innovations revolutionized the FMCG industry, the awards have previously recognized numerous small-scale firms for their ground-breaking innovations. Since its inception, the awards have honoured more than 30 enterprising entrepreneurs from across the country. Now in its 12th year, the awards have expanded their search for the most outstanding entrepreneurs nationwide. CavinKare provides mentorship to the winners of the innovation awards in various fields, including marketing, finance, design, packaging, research and development (R&D), and human resources (HR).