The L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) joined forces to host the '2nd Incubator Startup Challenge', a flagship event of LVPEI aimed at recognising innovative startups in the field of eye care globally.

Under the aegis of the BioNEST programme by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Government of India, LVPEI's startup incubator stands as a pioneering hospital-based platform providing extensive support for healthcare innovators to nurture ideas, develop prototypes, and achieve commercial success.

The event, spanning two days starting from March 1, 2024, commenced with a boot camp held at LVPEI BioNEST in Poonirma and Ramam Atmakuri Centre for Technology in Kismatpur. It culminated with the announcement of startup challenge winners at LVPEI's Kallam Anji Reddy campus, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. 

The winners of the 2nd Incubator Startup Challenge include Sunbots Innovations LLP (Winner), Innovease India (1st runner-up), and JohnDa's Pocket Foldable FunDaScope (2nd runner-up), with a special mention for Pattu Thadam.

Additionally, winners of the AIOS EyeInvent Hackathon were also announced, comprising Dr. Shivraj Tagare (Winner), Dr Shivam Gupta (1st runner-up), Dr Namrata Kabra (2nd runner-up), and a special mention for Dr Sushmita G Shah. These winners will have the opportunity to present their ideas at the All-India Ophthalmological Society meeting in Kolkata, with AIOS providing support to further their innovations.