NBEC 2025: 16 startups, 6 student teams win big with Rs 40 crore in investments

The C-CAMP National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition 2025, supported by Startup Karnataka and K-Tech, spotlighted breakthrough innovations across healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability.

The C-CAMP National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) 2025 concluded on a high note in Bengaluru, celebrating 16 startups and six student teams as winners. Organized with support from the Department of IT-BT, Science & Technology, Startup Karnataka, and K-Tech Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, the event highlighted the growing strength of India’s bio-innovation ecosystem.

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The winning startups secured nearly Rs 40 crore in cash prizes and investment commitments, while student teams collectively bagged Rs 9 lakh in awards. Beyond financial backing, selected winners will gain access to mentorship, industry partnerships, and accelerator support.
This year’s NBEC witnessed record participation, with 3,100 applications pouring in from 34 states and union territories, including tier-2 and tier-3 cities. After rigorous evaluation, 25 finalists were shortlisted based on novelty, scalability, and business potential.

The winning innovations addressed pressing challenges in healthcare, agriculture, water management, environment, and diagnostics. Highlights included AI-driven cancer drug development, cost-effective liver-on-chip devices, crop residue-based biodegradable batteries, and technologies converting carbon emissions into valuable biochemicals. Other solutions spanned smart irrigation systems, biopesticides, brain health tools, rapid bleeding control solutions, and neonatal care devices.

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Student-led innovations impressed equally, with projects ranging from bone fillers for orthopedic treatments and pathogen detection kits for neonatal sepsis, to AI-powered wound monitoring tools, rice mill effluent bioremediation, and dry yeast formulations for boosting ethanol production.

Leading investors pledged significant commitments at NBEC 2025. Social Alpha announced up to Rs 10 crore for seven startups, while Enzia committed Rs 5.1 crore for three ventures. Other participating networks, including Ideaspring Ventures, Theia Ventures, TiE Angels, Indian Angel Network, Bioangels, IIMA Ventures, and Omnivore, extended offers of multi-crore investments.

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With its blend of innovation, funding, and mentorship, NBEC 2025 reinforced its role as a launchpad for next-generation bio-entrepreneurs tackling India’s most critical challenges.

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