Hyderabad: From sustainable packaging made out of seaweed to AI that helps doctors read brain signals, women entrepreneurs from Hyderabad showcased their innovations at the TiE Women Global Summit this week. Each of them brought ideas with the potential to solve pressing global challenges, from environmental sustainability to healthcare and recruitment.Emerging as the winner of the Hyderabad round was Avinya NeuroTech, founded by Sowmya Darapaneni, which won a cash prize of 1 lakh and will represent the city at the TiE Global Summit in Jan. The startup aims to make advanced brain monitoring accessible to hospitals and doctors through simple AI-powered tools. Avinya’s products, NeuroAstra and NeuroPaahi, are designed to help doctors quickly interpret brain signals and respond faster in emergency and critical care situations. NeuroAstra is a software that analyses EEG (brainwave) readings using AI, and instantly provides reports that otherwise take hours, while NeuroPaahi is a portable device that allows real-time monitoring even outside big hospital setups.By combining artificial intelligence with neuroscience, Avinya hopes to ensure that accurate brain monitoring is not limited to a few specialist hospitals, but is available to all who need it. “Our goal is to make neuro-monitoring efficient, affordable, and accessible across India,” said Sowmya, who envisions a future where doctors in smaller clinics can detect seizures, brain injuries, or abnormalities without needing expensive imported systems.The few other startups in the fray showcased an equally inspiring range of innovations. Aditi Mullick, founder of Prasinos Tech Innovations, is developing nanobubble and ozone-based systems to improve water quality. “Our goal is to make clean water technologies both effective and affordable,” said Mullick, whose pilot project nearly doubled oxygen levels in a lake in Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad area.Meanwhile, Shailaja Bangaru, founder of Rare & Authentic Extracts LLP, is tackling the plastic crisis through biodegradable, edible films made from seaweed and guar gum that dissolve in water. “Sustainability must be practical,” she said, adding, “Our goal is to create packaging that is safe, simple, and leaves nothing behind.”Similarly, Rachna Gujral’s Skylish Petcare focuses on fresh, preservative-free food for pets made with human-grade ingredients. “Pet parents today want to know what goes into their pets’ food,” she said. “We focus on nutritional balance, transparency, and trust.” Meanwhile, Prayushi Mathur, an IIIT-Hyderabad graduate and founder of AjnHawk Technologies, is using drones and AI to monitor road conditions, construction, and infrastructure quality. “Technology can make public infrastructure safer and maintenance more proactive,” she said.In the fashion and crafts space, Avani Reddy’s Aharya Indie Craft Connect is blending traditional Indian textiles with modern aesthetics, working with artisans and weavers across the country. “Aharya is about reclaiming our craft heritage and making it relevant to a new generation,” she said. “We want to create fashion that’s rooted in tradition yet forward-looking.” At the intersection of HR and AI, Nishtha Rohatgi’s AI.HYR (Providentia Labs) automates hiring through AI-driven candidate screening and multilingual interviews. “Our platform is built to help companies make hiring more objective and data-driven,” said Nishtha, whose company has expanded to the UAE and US markets.
