Bala VikasaIMPULSE
Pre-IMPULSE 2026 · Campus innovation programme

Ideas with purpose.
Built to move.

A national pathway for students and young innovators to shape affordable, inclusive solutions—and take the strongest ideas from campus to the IMPULSE stage.

DiscoverBuildPitchShowcase
Host a Pre-IMPULSE event →See the team journey
Participants demonstrating a social innovation prototype
From campus to IMPULSEBuild. Pitch. Refine.
Meet the ecosystem.
750+young innovators targeted for the 2026 programme
A young social innovator receiving recognition at IMPULSE
Host onboarding open
15ecosystem events
200+teams expected
7thrust areas
What is Pre-IMPULSE?

Find promising social innovators early.

Pre-IMPULSE brings the IMPULSE platform to campuses and youth networks. Teams identify a real problem, design a practical response, test the idea with mentors and pitch for a place at the flagship Social Entrepreneurship Summit.

2025 highlights
600+student innovators engaged
50teams shortlisted across 10 institutions
15teams showcased at IMPULSE
Student innovators at a Pre-IMPULSE event
Participants demonstrating a social innovation prototype
A young innovator receiving recognition at IMPULSE
2026 programme

Bigger reach.
Stronger pathways.

The 2026 edition expands across disciplines, institutions and regions while keeping participation accessible.

15

campus and ecosystem events

4–5

events outside Telangana

200+

teams expected to participate

750+

student innovators engaged

15

finalists at IMPULSE Day

Seven thrust areas

Innovation aimed at
the problems that matter.

01

AI & Tech for Social Good

Responsible tools that improve access, delivery and decision-making.

02

Education

Learning access, teaching support, skilling and inclusive outcomes.

03

Agriculture

Farm productivity, market access, resilience and rural livelihoods.

04

Healthcare

Affordable prevention, diagnosis, care and health access.

05

Climate & Circular Economy

Low-carbon systems, waste solutions and resource efficiency.

06

Assistive Technology

Products and services that enable dignity, access and independence.

07

Open, Rural & Grassroots Innovation

Practical ideas rooted in local knowledge and lived experience.

+

Cross-sector ideas welcome

Strong solutions often sit between disciplines. Tell us the change you want to make.

The team journey

A clear route from
idea to opportunity.

Teams of 2–4 students, youth innovators or grassroots founders move through a practical selection and mentoring process.

Explore the five-stage journey

Campus challenge

Host institutions run a focused innovation event with BV-CSRB guidance.

November–December

Institution nominations

Each host shortlists 4–5 teams for the next round.

Initial screening

Shortlist & mentoring

About 50 teams refine their problem, solution, impact and pitch.

Expert feedback

Final pitching

Selected teams present their solutions and impact plans.

Expert jury panel

IMPULSE showcase

Up to 15 finalists exhibit, network and gain ecosystem visibility. The top 3 teams get rewarded.

8 January 2027

A partnership programme

Made for institutions.
Built around innovators.

We invite engineering and management colleges, universities, social-science departments, incubators, sector organisations and international schools.

Why host Pre-IMPULSE?

  • Activate student innovation around real social and environmental needs
  • A pipeline of innovators for your own incubator and entrepreneurship promotion activities
  • Create a visible pathway to a national social entrepreneurship platform
  • Give promising teams structured feedback and ecosystem exposure
  • Receive recognition as a Pre-IMPULSE host institution

What BV-CSRB provides

  • Programme framework, challenge structure and communication toolkit
  • Orientation for host teams and faculty coordinators
  • Mentor and jury guidance for screening and pitching
  • Shortlisting support and finalist preparation
  • Connection to IMPULSE, investors, incubators and sector experts
Together for social innovation

Key Strategic Partners

Pre-IMPULSE partners including BVRIT, Geethanjali College, CIE, KASE, Woxsen University and MLRITM
Programme calendar

One focused season.
One national stage.

Host dates are coordinated with participating institutions. Early confirmation gives teams more time to prepare.

October 2026

Partner onboarding

Confirm the host institution, coordinator and preferred event window.

11–28 November

Wave 1 events

Early campus challenges and first-round nominations.

7–18 December

Wave 2 events

Second event window followed by consolidated shortlisting.

29–30 December

Final pitching

Jury evaluation and selection of the IMPULSE showcase teams.

IMPULSE Day · 8 January 2027Finalist showcase · ecosystem access · recognition
Get involved

Choose your way in.

Tell us where you are starting. The BV-CSRB team will guide the next step.

Bring Pre-IMPULSE to your institution

For colleges, universities, incubators, youth networks and sector organisations ready to host an innovation challenge.

Start a host conversation →

Quick answers

Frequently asked.

Who can participate?

Teams of 2–4 students, young innovators or grassroots founders may participate through a host institution or partner network. Interdisciplinary teams are welcome.

Does a team need a finished startup?

No. Pre-IMPULSE is designed for early ideas and prototypes. Teams should be able to explain the problem, intended users, solution and expected impact.

What does participation cost?

The programme is designed to remain accessible. The coordinating institution will confirm local participation details for each host event.

What happens to shortlisted teams?

Shortlisted teams receive guidance to refine their idea and pitch. Finalists are invited to showcase at IMPULSE on 8 January 2027 and connect with the wider social entrepreneurship ecosystem.

What happens if my team is not shortlisted?

Your team can still exhibit at IMPULSE or participate as students with a discounted pass, subject to availability and the final participation guidelines.

How can an institution become a host?

Fill the form BV-CSRB team here

with institution, Point of contact, email,  preferred date and expected no.of students 

Our team will get back you shortly

Advance academic-led social innovation

Help the next generation of problem-solvers find their platform.

Contact the programme team →Explore IMPULSE 2027
Programme contactsaadhika@balavikasa.org+91 99878 50635
ramakrishna@balavikasa.org+91 8499027066
Bala Vikasa Center for Social and Responsible Business

Pre-IMPULSE 2026 · Bala Vikasa Center for Social and Responsible Business
Building a stronger social innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Ramana Gupta is an extremely accomplished financial professional with more than 30 years of experience in banking, finance, and corporate treasury. He is also co-founder of Wealth First Finserv, an independent investment advisory firm directed by senior-level partners. Ramana Gupta is a person who influences top-ranking finance professionals; whose opinion is highly sought after; and whose judgment is widely respected and trusted.
Ramana Gupta graduated in economics from Osmania University and qualified as a Financial Risk Manager from a banking institution. After graduation, he started his career as a banker with State Bank and worked across the country in various departments gaining insights in all aspects of banking. Known for his quick decision making and expertise in foreign exchange, he developed a passion for financial markets early in his career.

In 1995, he joined a leading corporate house to broaden his horizon. With the dawn of liberalization, the 1990s provided him with a huge scope for structuring innovative practices in risk management and capital expenditure. He went on to create several benchmarks in long term sustainability and low-cost financing.
Apart from this, he has also been proactive in social work as the inherent penchant of giving back to society is part of his personality. As a result, he became part of Bala Vikasa CSRB, where he is unleashing his passion through helping zealous social entrepreneurs. As a mentor, he is putting his best foot to bring up new aspects and angles to solve problems innovatively.

Ramana Gupta

Advisor and Board Member, Bala Vikasa

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Shoury Reddy, a charismatic leader, is an integral part of Bala Vikasa since its inception. He has been holding the reigns of the organization since 2009 and ensuring constant growth. His supervision, BalaVikasa spread across six Indian states in 6000 villages impacting the lives of over five million rural poor through innovative community empowerment initiatives.
Shoury Reddy did his post-graduation in Social Work from AcharyaNagarjuna University and a diploma in Community Development from St. F.X. University, Canada. While working closely with the grassroots communities, he designed some of the most effective community development models. These models have inspired several NGOs, development professionals, and central/state governments. He spearheaded projects such as tank desiltation, water purification, model villages, and Sujal ATWs.

To take sustainable development works to the next level, Shoury Reddy and BalaVikasa board spearheaded to establish India’s biggest incubation center for social entrepreneurs – Bala Vikasa CSRB in Hyderabad.
Known for his work with grassroots communities, Shoury Reddy has a vast skill set ranging from networking with multi-level stakeholders to carrying out effective PR and capacity building. His dedication to social work has been successfully driving the organization’s mission and vision forward.

Shoury Reddy Singareddy

Executive Director, Bala Vikasa

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Rahul Bhardwaj is an accomplished strategy and management consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. Before starting his journey with BVCSRB, Rahul has worked with big corporate houses such as Deloitte, KPMG, and Aditya Birla Group, where he handled multi-million projects and assignments. These projects were spread through various business sectors and geographic locations including the UK, India, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
He is an alumnus of Hansraj College, Delhi University, and London Business School, London. He is a member of the CSR Panel of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Telangana Chapter. After successfully working as a seasoned consultant in corporate strategy and management, Rahul is now holding the baton of BVCSRB.

Being an entrepreneur himself, his interest in promoting entrepreneurship doesn’t come as a surprise. In BVCSRB, he is supporting and nurturing Social Entrepreneurs through its flagship program – SOCENT Fellowship. He also advises and engages with corporate partners to support and implement their CSR programs.
Rahul’s areas of expertise include strategy and business development, investment advisory, team building, start-up financing and advisory, and social entrepreneurship. He is also an avid reader and cricket lover.

Rahul Bhardwaj

Senior Director and Head, Bala Vikasa CSRB

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With over a decade of experience in working with communities and the development sector, Vijender Mogili is an Social Entrepreneurship professional and contributes to the constantly evolving Social Entrepreneurship ecosystem through his observations, research, and experience. He also strongly believes that Social Entrepreneurship accelerates community development.

Vijender is a graduate in MA Social Entrepreneurship from Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai. He has an experience of working with various government agencies and private companies that work for the welfare of communities and human rights like ALC India, Dr Reddy’s Foundation, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, StreeNidhi Credit Cooperative Federation Limited, WASSAN and Universal Dalit Welfare Society in business planning and development and program implementation. Besides being a Social Entrepreneurship professional Vijender is affiliated with Indigenous Development Organization, JNV Vattem Alumni Association as an advisor. 
With this dynamic experience and approach to community he brings an inclusive perspective in providing tailored service to Social Entrepreneurs at Bala Vikasa CSRB. He leads the Social Entrepreneurship team and contributes in Incubation of social startups and capacity building to strengthen the Social Entrepreneurship ecosystem.

A robust advocate of social equality and tribal rights, Vijender is actively volunteering in rural and tribal development initiatives.

Vijender Mogili

Manager, Social Entrepreneurship

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Parvathy is a graduate in MA Development Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad and is interested in working on improving livelihood opportunities for rural communities, social inequality, human rights and urban and rural development. 

Intrigued by the socio-economic and cultural aspects that contribute to community development, she did intensive research on how these factors affect the livelihood of tribal women, intergenerational occupational mobility along with the predicaments of the handloom sector and the push and pull of migration affecting the housing market. Besides this, she also worked with  GRAAM (Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement), Mitraniketan and Palle Srujan as a research intern. 

At Bala Vikasa CSRB, Parvathy contributes in developing, designing and conducting Capacity Building projects for social entrepreneurs to help them understand communities at Bala Vikasa CSRB. She was also actively involved in planning and implementing Bala Vikasa CSRB’s flagship event, Social Entrepreneurship Summit - Impulse and webinar series on Social Entrepreneurship. Parvathy is an avid music lover, enjoys everything that adds value to life and is looking forward to making a difference in the development sector while making the best of every opportunity life offers her.

Parvathy

Associate, Social Entrepreneurship

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Sahithi, a postgraduate in Public Policy and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad is passionate about conducting Impact Assessments and schemes of welfare schemes. She firmly believes that the right impact assessment of development projects is the foundation for designing and implementing more community specific and impact oriented development initiatives.

Previously, Sahiti was a Senior Executive For Monitoring and Evaluation in the Program Development Department of Apollo Tele-Health Services. At Bala Vikasa CSRB, she will be contributing to monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment, data analysis, proposal writing, secondary research and program implementation

A voracious reader, classical music and a Kathak dance student, Sahithi wishes to work for community well being and effective implementation of development initiatives through her work.

Venkata Sahithi Kompella

Senior Associate, Responsible Business & CSR

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