Twelve women-led ventures have made it to the finals of TiE Chandigarh’s Women Global Pitch Competition after an intense round of semi-finals at Parivartan Ka Utsav – Udaan, the chapter’s flagship event celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation and resilience. The finals will be held on September 29 at ISB Mohali, where the top six start-ups will share cash prizes worth Rs 5 lakh, and the chapter winner will secure a spot at the TiE Women Global Pitch Competition 2026 in Jaipur.This year’s competition drew 53 applications, of which 35 were shortlisted through a mentoring bootcamp. Nearly 70 per cent of the ventures came from Punjab, with the rest from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The semi-final pitches reflected a mix of technology, healthcare, education and community-building ideas — each aiming to solve real-world challenges with scalable solutions.Among the standout semi-finalists was SageNest by GloFluent VidyaTech, an AI-driven platform that connects learners with domain experts, offering personalised and real-time experiences to redefine the way people acquire skills. Herbal Nano Booster, another finalist, showcased herbal nanoformula-based healthcare innovations designed to deliver more effective and accessible wellness solutions.Healthcare innovation also came to the fore with a portable, integrated, and affordable ocular device tailored for developing and underdeveloped countries, aiming to bridge the gap in eye-care accessibility. Breaking new ground in the digital and social space, First Contact presented itself as India’s pioneering metaverse, website, and app for verified LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, providing a safe, anonymous platform to connect, build personal and professional relationships, and eventually take them offline.The evening’s atmosphere was charged with energy, grit and optimism as women entrepreneurs from across the region took the stage. “Transformation and empowerment were at the heart of the event, inspiring collaboration and accelerating women’s impact on society and business,” Pooja Nayar, chair, TiE Women Chandigarh, saidChief Guest Surabhi Malik, director, Industries and Commerce, Punjab, reaffirmed the government’s support for women-led enterprises. The event also carried a boost of encouragement with a major philanthropic gesture: Ranbir Singh pledged $20,000 (Rs 16.5 lakh) to TiE Chandigarh’s programmes, including TiE Young Entrepreneurs, TiE University and TiE Women.Story continues below this adThe programme combined competition with inspiration, featuring a keynote by DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo, a panel with entrepreneur Himani Arora and actress Divita Juneja, a fireside chat between Komal Talwar and Dr Kuldeep Kaur, and a discussion on financial independence for women.Puneet Verma, president, TiE Chandigarh, said the event marked a milestone: “For the first time, such a large-scale event of the women and by the women was organised, fully managed by TiE women members. This is the beginning of a new journey”.With 12 semi-finalists now poised for the last leg, the focus shifts to ISB Mohali, where one winner will carry Chandigarh’s banner to the global stage in Jaipur next year.The author is an intern with The Indian Express