‘UP RISE 2026’: A New Platform for Innovation and Self-Employment in Uttar Pradesh
The initiative encourages young people to become job creators rather than job seekers
Dreams of a Self-Reliant Uttar Pradesh Find Expression at Jaunpur’s TD College
Jaunpur, October 2026 : The Yogi government’s vision of transforming young people from job seekers into job creators and positioning Uttar Pradesh as a hub of innovation and startups received fresh impetus at the ‘UP RISE’ programme held on Friday.
Organised at Tilakdhari Postgraduate College in Jaunpur, the event witnessed students presenting innovative startup ideas that combined technology with agriculture, handicrafts and business. Jaunpur student Supriya won the first prize in the competition and received a cash award of Rs 25,000. Kaushal secured the second runner-up position, while Sujal received a consolation prize.
The programme was inaugurated by mentors Jyoti Tiwari Rastogi and Anupam Raghuvanshi, along with Tilakdhari College Principal Dr Ramashray Singh and other college officials. Young participants showcased innovations in agriculture, management, healthcare, crafts, hyperlocal e-commerce, Jaunpur Rural Artisan, Digi Dukaan, Fresh Fold and artificial intelligence, among other fields.
Traditional Crochet Craft Innovation Wins Top Prize
Supriya, a second-year BCom student from Jaunpur, secured the first position for giving a contemporary touch to traditional crochet craft. She presented handmade products such as phone covers, coasters and hair clips using the traditional handicraft technique.
She received a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and said she would use the money to further develop her startup.
Connect Innovation with Practical Experience and Focus on Market Research: Mentor
Mentor Jyoti Tiwari Rastogi has made significant contributions to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors over the past 15 years, with a particular focus on making healthcare services more accessible, inclusive and effective for women.
She is the founder and CEO of Ingenious Workz, a Stanford-trained design thinking expert and a certified corporate trainer. She has trained more than 2,000 professionals and has also worked with the World Health Organization and the World Bank on women's healthcare and rural development initiatives.
Motivating the participants, she said, "During our time, such facilities were not available. You are fortunate to have a platform like this. Instead of seeking jobs, become job creators. The government is running several schemes to support you."
The second mentor, Anupam Raghuvanshi, is an experienced career strategist, mentor and TEDx speaker with more than two decades of experience in career counselling, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
He is the founder of Career Helpline and serves as the Chairman of Rotary International's Career Counselling and E-Learning Cell. He has also worked as a Director at the TIME Institute.
Encouraging young participants, Raghuvanshi advised them to identify their weaknesses, work on improving them and continue moving forward. He emphasised the importance of connecting innovation with practical experience and conducting thorough market research before launching a startup.
Youth Share Their Dreams of a Self-Reliant Uttar Pradesh
A special 'Shakti Zone' was created at the venue to showcase students' creativity and ideas. Participants wrote their thoughts and aspirations for a self-reliant Uttar Pradesh on slips of paper and shared them as part of the initiative.
Eleven Innovative Startup Ideas Presented
A large number of young people participated in the programme, with a total of 11 startup and innovation ideas showcased. These included Octo Flow, mushroom farming, Craft with Supriya, Krishi Netra, Fresh Fold, Instant Karigar, Digi Dukaan and an AI-based online platform.
The ideas presented by the participants highlighted technology-driven solutions to challenges in education, disaster management, agriculture and industry. They also demonstrated new possibilities for entrepreneurship and employment generation in the state.
