The third edition of PIWOT: PanIIT World of Technology Summit, organized by PanIIT Alumni India, wrapped up effectively at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on January 17–19, 2025. Under the subject “Technology at Work,” the summit is said to have brought together more than 3,500 participants and about 75 attendees from around the world for thought-provoking talks on the revolutionary effects of digitalization and technology breakthroughs on industry, governance, and society.
With several parallel technical sessions, startup sessions, and a live hackathon in between, the summit began with an opening session that featured keynote addresses by prominent individuals like Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This was followed by an influential closing plenary for the day by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
The Opening Plenary, titled “Making Technology Work – A Peep Into the Future,” featured a welcome address by Debashish Bhattacharya, Chairman of PAN IIT, and an inspiring keynote by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, former DG of CSIR. The event delved into various domain tracks, including Sustainable Development and Green Energy, VC/PE Investments in Technology, Rural and Agri-Tech, Social Impact, and Health and Education. Prominent organizations such as Mercedes-Benz Group AG, SBI, NASSCOM, Lexlegis.ai, Rakuten, and Mayo Clinic contributed to these discussions.
250 startups participated in the Startup Conclave, which included 12 display booths and 28 pitching sessions. Of these, 16 took part in open pitching sessions after a 16-week acceleration program, and 12 were from the IITstartups.org cohort.
With an average of more than six investors per business, the conclave drew in more than 200 investors, including family offices, corporate accelerators, venture capitalists, and angel investors. 500+ people attended the two-day event, which also featured insights from 26 eminent speakers, including entrepreneurs, unicorn founders, and leaders of high-growth firms.
It also helped 17 IIT incubator heads collaborate with one another. IMAGINE, India’s first design and coding hackathon, was one of the summit’s main attractions. Almost 300 attendees, chosen from over 15,000 registrations, created reasonably priced tech solutions tackling topics including digital healthcare and sustainable urban development.
The conference concluded with a distinguished valedictory session led by Jayant Sinha, Former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Government of India as a Guest of Honour, alongside Raj Nair, Co-Chair-PIWOT 2025, and a heartfelt thank-you note delivered by Dr. Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Bombay and IIT Jammu and Debashish Bhattacharyya, Chairman of PanIIT.
Key Comments
Reflecting on the success of the summit, Debashish Bhattacharyya, Chairman of PanIIT, shared, “PIWOT 2025 was a resounding success, bringing together the brightest minds in technology, policy, and business to explore how innovation is shaping our future. The collaborative discussions, along with dynamic startup ecosystem and hands-on hackathon, have created lasting partnerships and valuable insights that will drive change in the years to come.”
Raj Nair, Co-Chair-PIWOT 2025, added, “The overwhelming participation and engagement at PIWOT 2025 demonstrate the immense potential of technology to drive global impact. We are proud to have hosted this transformative event, which has sparked new collaborations and fostered innovation across industries and sectors.”
“PIWOT 2025 has been a powerful testament to the transformative potential of global collaboration, with startups and innovators from across the world coming together to drive meaningful change. The event has showcased how IIT alumni and the Indian innovation ecosystem are at the forefront of shaping the future, equipping India to lead the global tech revolution. As we continue to foster collaboration and entrepreneurship, IITs are playing a crucial role in positioning India as a powerhouse of technology and innovation.” concluded Dr. Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Bombay and IIT Jammu, and Chairman of PIWOT 2025.