At Nahar International School in Mumbai, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, in partnership with Get Set Learn, a future-skills-focused K–12 learning startup supported by the Arvind Mafatlal Group, successfully hosted the first Young Pioneers Launchpad 2025. This historic occasion, which gathered 150 young innovators, was the end of a life-changing year-long program designed to give young students an entrepreneurial mindset—a critical lifelong skill.

The Dr. SSNP School’s sustainable fashion assistant app was the winning concept; it was made to assist users in choosing eco-friendly clothing. Other noteworthy ideas included an AI-powered wearable that allows deaf-blind people to communicate in real time by translating speech into Braille vibrations, created by the Foundation School team (third position), and a long-lasting, high-performance clothing solution designed for school use by DAV School, Pushpanjali Enclave (second position).

The second-place teams showcased a wide variety of concepts, ranging from wellness programs designed to give young people stress-reduction skills (DAV School) to learning-focused, adaptable mobile ecosystems for kids (BVRTSE School). Students had spent months preparing in groups with mentors, honing their concepts through sessions led by experts and practical experiences. Young Pioneers gave students the tools they needed to transform big ideas into workable solutions, with parental support and school support as a first step toward incorporating future-ready skills.

Through experiential learning and real-world problem-solving, the Young Pioneers program aims to give students the fundamental skills they will need in the future, in line with the priorities of education policies. The program equips students to meet the demands of a changing global workforce by incorporating crucial subjects like creativity, teamwork, innovation, and resilience into the curriculum. Through practical projects, mentoring, and interaction with business executives, the program fosters problem-solving skills as well as confidence and adaptability, which are critical for succeeding in an unpredictable, rapidly changing future.

Several thought leaders and changemakers also spoke at the Launchpad, such as Anoushka Jolly, the founder of Kavach, who discussed how youth-led social innovation can have a lasting impact; Vishal Kumar, CEO of Waste Warriors Society, who emphasized the importance of civic responsibility as a driver of innovation; and Harneet Kaur of WTF Fund and Vik Khatwani, Founder of Earth Cafe, who urged students to lead with empathy and purpose.

The Young Pioneers program, which was created for all school boards’ seventh through tenth-grade classes, combines textbook instruction with mentorship and masterclasses led by experts to help students develop practical entrepreneurial skills and gain real-world knowledge. By concentrating on the principles of entrepreneurship and participating in masterclasses and mentoring from professionals in the field, they will advance through the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced stages over three years. Students will also have the chance to present their ideas to business owners and professionals in the field.

For more details, visit www.youngpioneers.in.

Priyanka Dutta