Junicorns cohort 3 - Curtainriser Event
May 14th 2026
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Junicorn
A new way of building. A new kind of founder.
About Junicorns (Junior Unicorns)
Junicorns represent a mindset that challenges the traditional entry-exit, valuation first model that defines conventional unicorns. Anyone who questions this framework and chooses to build differently is practicing the Junicorn way. At its core, a Junicorn places purpose above all, building not merely for scale or exits, but to create a lasting stamp through meaningful entities, cultures, and legacies that continue to compound far beyond ownership. Its defining metric is not just speed, but agility: the ability to move with velocity and flexibility while adapting to change without losing direction or diluting intent. A Junicorn founder is, above all, a seeker; someone in constant pursuit of expanding their purpose, sharpening their clarity, and amplifying their impact across people, systems, and generations, ensuring that what they build creates value that endures.
Cohort 1 – ISF Global Junicorn AI Summit (USA, 2025)
Hosted in Texas, USA in partnership with Texas University. This inaugural cohort brought together 40+ Junicorn founders pitching breakthrough ideas. Featuring global leaders and key speakers from AI and venture ecosystems, the summit blended high-stakes pitching with deep insights, setting the foundation for a purpose-driven, globally connected Junicorn movement.
Cohort 2 – Dubai Summit 2026
Held in Dubai, the second cohort elevated scale and diversity, with global investors and 50+ Junicorns from India and the Middle East. With impactful keynote sessions and high-energy collaborations, the event focused on cross-border innovation, strengthening the Junicorn ecosystem while enabling founders to expand their vision, networks, and real-world execution.
Why the Junicorns Movement Started
Junicorns was started to give the youth of the country a decisive push toward the right direction in life. Many young individuals fall into negative habits and distractions due to a lack of purpose and aligned opportunities. Junicorns exists to channel their attention, energy, and potential into solving real problems within their own communities, enabling them to think, act, and grow as entrepreneurs while driving meaningful development across both rural and urban India.
Junicorn Testimonials
Event Agenda
Regional Innovation Challenge
Organised by International Startup Foundation (ISF) in association with Dayananda Sagar University
Breakfast Networking
Inauguration Session (ISF, DSU & GAVS)
Coffee Break
ISF Junicorn 2026 Curtain Raiser Event
(Including announcements & MoUs)
Roundtable 1: Startup Opportunities in Pharma & Lifesciences
Roundtable 2: GCC Connect
Lunch Break
Roundtable 3: Women Empowerment
Pitches from Selected Junicorn Students
JUNICORN COHORT-3.0 CURTAIN RAISER
Roundtable 4: Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Junicorns
Junicorns Anniversary Celebrations Cake Cutting Ceremony
Event Conclusion
(Delegates may plan their departures accordingly.)
Demo Day Speakers
Dr. J A Chowdary
Founder & Chairman, International Startup Foundation
RP Ravi Shankar
President, GAVS
Sri Atluri
Managing Director, BNY
Dr. Premachandra Sagar
Pro Chancellor of Dayananda Sagar University
Dr. B. S. Satyanarayana
Vice Chancellor of Dayananda Sagar University
Roundtable 1
Lifesciences
Reimagining Healthcare Through Science & Technology
Moderator
Dr. Uday Saxena
Founder, IEFR
speaker
Dr. Kishan Gurram
Founder & MD at Sravathi AI
speaker
Mr. Suraparaju Subramanyam Raju
CEO, IDFIC
speaker
Dr. Markandeya Gorantla
Chairman & Managing Director @ ATGC Biotech
speaker
Dr. Subrahmanyam Vangala
Co-Founder & Director at Reagene Innovations
speaker
Dr.Suresh Poosala
Founder, Acasta Health
speaker
Mr. Venkat Nippani
Partner at PwC
Roundtable 2
ISF GCC Connect
Where Global Capability Meets Local Innovation
Moderator
Mr. Vishwanadh Raju
CEO & Co Founder PlugScale
speaker
Dr. JA Chowdary
ISF Junicorns Chairman
speaker
Venkat Nippani
Member
speaker
Mr. Vinay Tyagaraj
Founder Partner, Venu & Vinay
speaker
Mr. Bharath Jatangi
COO Founder
speaker
Mr. Aneelkumar Savalagi
Member
speaker
Mr. Raghav Bahl
Founding General Partner, PROMAFT Partners
speaker
NLS Murthy
GM at Greenway Health India
speaker
Mr. Prem Kumar
Head - Sales & Growth at SecondHQ
Roundtable 3
Women Empowerment
Empowering Women to Lead, Build & Transform
Moderator
Mrs. Divya Vinayak
Moderator
Chairperson Indi Ativa Foundation
Panel Member
Dr Shanta Thoutam
Former Chief Innovation Officer of Telangana
speaker
Indira Gupta BS
Centre Head at Arena Animation
Speaker
Geetha Manjunath
CEO/Founder - Niramai, AI
speaker
Smita Malipatil
Building the healthcare stack
speaker
Nidhi Vadhera
COO-StartupConnect Global
speaker
Ms Chhaya Gandhi
the Senior National Vice President and State President
Roundtable 4
Entraprenural opportunities for Junicorns
Empowering Rural Innovation to Scale Globally
Moderator
Naveen Lakkur
Innovation Coach
speaker
Dr. Siva Mahesh Tangutooru
ISF Junicorns Co-founder
speaker
Mr. Vineeth Raju
Founder, DestinMe
speaker
Mr. Jagaddish Chinda
Director, Wavetech Telecom
speaker
Mr. Sreekanth K Arimanithaya
CEO – Xarpie Labs | Co-founder – Mantrika.ai, Visara Partners & Communios.ai
speaker
Mr. Kamlesh Nuthi
Entrepreneur/ Growth Hacker/ Global Expertise
speaker
Mr. Soham Avlani
Founding General Partner, PROMAFT Partners
Demo Day Highlights
Top Junicorns Showcase
Breakthroughs from across the Deccan India.
Insightful Keynotes and Panel Discussions
Next-gen tech, AI, and disruptive innovation insights.
Roundtables on the future of Entrepreneurship for Rural Junicorns
Discussions revolving around the need for innovations in rural India, and an impact-driven entrepreneurial mindset in youth.
Impact Driven Networking
Join a vibrant community of peers, mentors and partners dedicated to innovation and collaboration.
Junicorn Team
Dr. J A Chowdary
ISF Junicorn Founder
Dr. Mahesh Tangatooru
ISF Junicorn Co-Founder
Poondla Siddharth Reddy
Global Head Junicorns
Priyanka Kamath
Head Junicorns for Girls
Parvathi Vunnam
Management Coordinator
Venkata Sai
Junicorn Program Lead & Operations
Venkata Kiran Kumar
ISF Junicorn Volunteer
Rounak K Shankar
ISF Junicorn Volunteer