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Two founders of startups incubated at Atal Incubation Centre-JK Lakshmipat University (AIC-JKLU) were honoured at the Grassroots Innovator Recognition Ceremony 2026 held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 31 in the august presence of President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu and Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh.

Neha Solanki, founder of Unnati Adaptive Devices, and Chirag M G, founder of Sunbird Straws, were among 26 innovators from across the country selected for the prestigious recognition through a multi-stage evaluation process that assessed originality, grassroots relevance, societal impact, scalability and the ability to address real-world challenges.

Describing grassroots innovation as the true strength of India’s innovation ecosystem, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the country has today crossed 2.4 lakh startups, making it the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He said these achievements are significant, but the real success of India’s innovation movement will be measured by the number of real-life problems solved through affordable technologies that improve the lives of farmers, women, artisans, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens. Innovations that reduce drudgery, enhance productivity, generate livelihoods and create sustainable local enterprises, he said, represent the true spirit of inclusive development.

Neha Solanki and Chirag M G’s startups do exactly that.

Solanki's Jodhpur-based startup develops affordable adaptive equipment for children with disabilities, addressing a gap in India's assistive technology sector. Its flagship product, the Buddy Chair, is designed to provide postural support, stability and comfort for children aged four to 12 during learning, therapy, meals and other daily activities.

The company is also developing Freedom Ride, an adaptive stroller for older children, and plans to expand its work through customised assistive devices, caregiver support and awareness programmes for families and therapy centres.

"I am honoured to receive this recognition. The early support from AIC-JKLU helped us transform an idea into a solution that today supports hundreds of children and their families," Solanki said.

Sunbird Straws manufactures drinking straws from naturally dried coconut leaves and other agricultural residue through a chemical-free process, offering an alternative to plastic straws. Its products also create value by utilising agricultural waste that might otherwise be discarded or burned while generating livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The company is exploring the use of other agricultural materials, including pineapple and pandanus leaves, to expand production and strengthen its sustainable product portfolio.

"This recognition strengthens our commitment to replacing single-use plastic with practical and scalable solutions rooted in local communities," Chirag M G said.

Nidhi Kachhawa, Chief Executive Officer of AIC-JKLU, said the recognition reflected the growing contribution of grassroots innovation in addressing social and environmental challenges.

"These ventures demonstrate how locally relevant innovation can create scalable solutions with measurable impact," she said.

AIC-JKLU will continue supporting both ventures in their next phase of product development, partnerships and market expansion, while strengthening its commitment to inclusive innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.