Kalam Stream Challenge 2026: ASM's IIBR PGDM Students Showcase Innovative Business Ideas
Twelve PGDM students from ASM's IIBR took three bold business ideas to the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026: modular jewellery, AI-powered hospital queues and reusable delivery packaging. Each idea started with a real customer problem and ended with a business model to solve it.
The national-level student innovation and model competition was organised by ASM Group of Institutes on Sunday, 11 October 2026, at ASM's CSIT, Pimpri, Pune. It commemorated the 95th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the scientist and former President of India who inspired generations to innovate.
For ASM's IIBR, seeing its future managers think like entrepreneurs on a national stage was a big milestone and a proud moment.
About the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026
The Kalam Stream Challenge is a national-level platform where students present research, projects and innovative models across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. It rewards students who spot a real problem and build a practical answer.
For management students, a strong idea is only half the job. They must also define the customer, the market, the operating model and the path to growth, and defend it all before expert judges.
Three Business Ideas from ASM's IIBR
Project | Problem it solves | Team |
Jewels Aurelia | Costly jewellery and the need for many pieces | Kratika Parashar (Team Leader), Aakansha Gupta, Shreyash Badase |
CareQ AI | Long, unpredictable hospital waiting times | Aditya Koche (Team Leader), Rohit Mahajan, Dhruv Jain, Harsh Kajave |
LoopPack | Single-use delivery packaging waste | Dhruv Chokhawala (Team Leader) |
Jewels Aurelia: One Piece, Endless Possibilities
Rising gold prices put jewellery out of reach for many, while cheaper pieces can lose their shine and colour. Customers also end up buying several pieces to match different outfits.
Jewels Aurelia answers with a 5-in-1 modular and reversible jewellery piece that creates five looks from one product. The team also planned the manufacturing process, responsible use of recovered metal, quality testing and social impact through partnerships with NGOs. Its direct-to-consumer (D2C) model keeps prices affordable and builds a direct relationship with customers.
"One piece. Endless possibilities. Why buy five when one can become five?"
CareQ AI: Smart Hospital Queue Management
Long, uncertain waits are one of the most stressful parts of any hospital visit. CareQ AI is an AI-powered platform that lets patients:
Find hospitals and view key information
Check bed availability
Book OPD tokens
Track estimated waiting times
For hospitals, it helps organise emergency, priority and general patients, so staff can manage patient flow more smoothly. Less time in the waiting room means a better experience for patients and a calmer day for hospital teams.
LoopPack: A Reusable Packaging Ecosystem
Most online orders arrive in a box or mailer that is thrown away after a single use. LoopPack replaces it with a circular system built on three parts:
Reusable totes: Tear-resistant woven polypropylene bags designed to last more than 30 delivery cycles.
Scan-to-return: Customers scan a QR code and hand the tote to a delivery agent or neighbourhood kirana store, earning UPI cashback.
Reverse hubs: Micro-warehouses that collect, clean, track and send totes back into the delivery chain.
LoopPack turns packaging from a waste product into a service, connecting customers, delivery partners, local retailers and logistics in one loop.
Distinguished Dignitaries
Leaders from science, research, education and public administration graced the event.
Chief Guests
Dr. Arvind A. Natu: Chairman, Board of Governors, IISER Kolkata and MANIT, Bhopal; German Research Ambassador.
Shri A. K. Sinha: Former Senior Scientist, ISRO; Former Director (R&D), Bharati Vidyapeeth University College of Engineering, Pune.
Guests of Honour
Dr. Heera Lal, IAS: Secretary, National Integration Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Prof. Ananya Mukherjee: Vice-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR.
Dr. Sandeep Pachpande: Chairman, ASM Group of Institutes, Pune.
Dr. Dilip Deshmukh: Head of the Science Department, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune.
Er. D. Gokul: Senior Scientist and Project Manager, SSLV, ISRO.
Mr. Daram Muralidhara Reddy: Dean and Research Coordinator, Ashoka Women's Engineering College, Kurnool.
Mr. Rishiraj Singh Parihar: Director, SBITM, Betul, Madhya Pradesh.
Mr. Fasalu Rahman: Founder and CEO, STEM-Xpert.
Shri APJ M. Sheikh Dawood: Grand-nephew of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Vice-President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation.
A Proud Moment for ASM's IIBR
Twelve students, three ventures and three very different industries: the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026 showed what ASM's IIBR PGDM students can build when classroom learning meets real-world problems.
From fashion to healthcare to sustainability, each team thought through the customer, the operations and the business model, the same thinking that turns an idea into a company. That entrepreneurial spirit is exactly what Dr. Kalam hoped young India would embrace.
ASM's IIBR congratulates every student who participated, and thanks our faculty, mentors and management for their guidance and encouragement.
ASM's IIBR remains committed to shaping future business leaders who solve real problems with creativity, technology and purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026 held?
On Sunday, 11 October 2026, at ASM's CSIT, Pimpri, Pune. ASM Group of Institutes organised it to mark Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's 95th birth anniversary.
How many ASM's IIBR students participated?
Twelve PGDM students from ASM's IIBR took part.
What projects did IIBR students present?
Jewels Aurelia, a 5-in-1 modular jewellery piece; CareQ AI, a smart hospital queue management platform; and LoopPack, a reusable delivery packaging system.
What is LoopPack?
A circular packaging service using reusable totes, QR-based returns with UPI cashback, and reverse hubs that clean and recirculate the totes.
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