San Marcos, Texas: The ISF Global Junicorn & AI Summit 2025, held at Texas State University, created history by showcasing the exceptional talents of young innovators from rural India. A delegation of 50 students from various Indian villages presented their creative projects at this prestigious international forum, capturing global admiration.
The children’s innovations across domains such as technology, healthcare, environmental conservation, and social development received international acclaim. Telangana IT Special Secretary Sanjay Kumar graced the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest, lending significant importance to the event.
Organized under the leadership of the International Startup Foundation (ISF), the summit was made possible through the vision of its founder Dr. J.A. Chowdary and the coordination of ISF USA President Atluri. All travel, accommodation, workshops, and demo-day arrangements were provided free of cost to the student participants.
Impressive Innovations by Young Minds
NaturaShe: Biodegradable sanitary pads designed for rural women’s health.
Sense Vibe: A navigation device developed for persons with disabilities.
Jalapatra: A low-cost water purification system.
NGreenTech: An e-waste recycling model promoting environmental sustainability.
Many other student projects also stood out and received special awards in categories like Innovation, Social Impact, Breakthrough Thinker, Prototype Development, and Storytelling.
Ram Puppala Innovation Award
In memory of Ram Puppala, who passed away recently, the Ram Puppala Innovation Award will be instituted, as announced by ISF USA President Atluri.
Lifetime Achievement Awards – 2025
Outstanding contributors across various fields were honored during the event:
Jay Talluri – Infra & Social Development
Prasad Gundumogula – Digital Travel Technology
Swathi Atluri – Arts & Cultural Services
Nishith Desai – Legal Thought Leadership
Lax Chepuri – Innovation in Tech Talent Development
The event was anchored by Padma Alluri and Prakash Boddala, with key coordination support from Dr. Mahesh Tanguturu, Satyendra, Seshadri Vangala, and Vishala Reddy. The success of the summit was made possible through the collective efforts of hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, and supporters.
Post-Summit Activities
Students also had the opportunity to visit iconic institutions such as NASA Space Center, Texas Science Museum, and several innovation hubs in Dallas and Austin. The summit opened up exciting prospects in mentorship, funding, and startup scaling opportunities.
Vision 2030 – The Mission Ahead
ISF has declared a long-term goal to nurture 100,000 rural youth startup founders by 2030. This is not just an annual summit — it is a social innovation movement. Officially, ISF has announced that Junicorn Summit 2026 will be held in New Jersey.
