SHARKPIT-2026 (MORNING)
Morning Session – Event Introduction & Jury Insights (10:10 AM – 12:30 PM)
The morning session will begin with the official inauguration of the event, followed by a welcome address from the Principal of Matrusri Engineering College and the Heads of Departments. This session will introduce the purpose of the Shark Tank Pitch Event and highlight the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup thinking among students.
Following the inauguration, there will be a special mini session on startup pitching and entrepreneurial journeys led by the distinguished jury members invited for the event. During this session, the speakers will share their experiences in building startups, working with emerging technologies, and navigating the challenges of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Students will gain valuable insights into how startup ideas are evaluated, how founders build impactful products, and what investors look for during a pitch.
The session will feature insights from the event’s jury panel:
E Sai Eshwar – An ecosystem and product operator based in Hyderabad and the co-founder of Studlyf, a platform focused on empowering students with real-world opportunities and communities. He is also the founder of Nirvaha, an AI-powered wellness platform, and GuideBazaar, a startup knowledge community. Eshwar has been a 12-time hackathon finalist and winner of competitions including HACKX 2025 and WiSH 2025, and he actively mentors hundreds of students while speaking at startup and technology events.
Yashwanth Bondapalli – An AI and Cybersecurity professional associated with Back to Base XYZ, a technology community that supports developer growth and innovation. His work focuses on building intelligent applications using Large Language Models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems with a strong emphasis on security and reliability. He has also been invited as a speaker at GitTogether Hyderabad, a developer event organized by GitHub India and supported by Microsoft, where he shared insights on AI and cybersecurity.
Sai Harishith Somishetti – Founder and Director of ShieldNet Solutions, a technology services company specializing in cybersecurity, web development, mobile applications, and digital solutions. Through his company, he delivers end-to-end technology solutions and actively collaborates with engineering colleges to provide students with internships, industry exposure, and practical training opportunities in real-world technology environments.
This session will help participants understand the startup ecosystem, real-world product building, and the art of presenting ideas effectively, preparing them for the pitching round later in the day.