Parin Somani Leads LOSD Startup Programme at Harvard

Entrepreneurs representing a diverse range of emerging ventures gathered in Cambridge for a three-day Startup Founders Programme designed to move businesses beyond the pitch deck and into practical conversations around investment, leadership, resilience, scalability and international opportunities.

Organised by the London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD), founded by Prof. Dr. Parin Somani, in collaboration with International Business Week (IBW), founded by Vineet C. Nambiar, the programme was led by LOSD Director Nurbanu Somani.

Held from August 13 to 15 at the Harvard Science Center, the programme brought together around 30 startups and combined rapid-fire pitching with mentor-led sessions, leadership discussions, international business conversations, a Scaleups Showcase and an evening networking reception.

The programme opened with a dedicated Founders and Pitch Day, beginning with registration and an introduction to the accelerator programme by H. E. Baron Alec Stern. Aaron Shum led a session on building an international brand in the Gulf, while Sameer Sortur explored the practical demands of developing and scaling a venture.

The centrepiece of the opening day was a two-part pitching programme in which around 30 startups were allocated tightly timed presentation slots before an investor discussion. Ventures featured included Kreativio, Agentix, ConsenTerra, Anthropilot Inc., HumLife360, TankaIQ, UGCROSTER, Banjo AI, VoiceKind AI, RISE Robotics, AI Empath, Clairio and MLX AI, among others.

The format reflected a familiar challenge for founders seeking investment: communicating a business problem, establishing credibility and presenting a convincing case for growth within a limited period.

The second day broadened the discussion from individual ventures to the wider conditions required for businesses to achieve sustainable growth. Keynote presentations and talks were followed by a special “Gulf to Globe” strand and a Boston Innovation session.

Panel discussions examined education and lifelong learning, alongside a conversation focused on women leading with purpose. The sessions encouraged founders to consider more than investment and market access, highlighting the importance of leadership, skills development, resilience and relationships when operating across international markets.

The final day featured further talks and rapid-fire keynote presentations before discussions focused on sustainable growth, mental health and resilience. A one-hour Scaleups Showcase then placed live investor pitches at the centre of the programme, giving selected founders an opportunity to present their ventures before an international audience.

Following the initial pitching and assessment process, 10 ventures were selected to appear on the main stage: Anthropilot Inc., Sarf, Banjo AI, My Manufacturing Lab, VoiceKind AI, RISE Robotics, AI Impact, Bhalesha, Building Diagnostics Robotics and Air Shelves.

After the final presentations and judging process, Building Diagnostics Robotics was announced as the overall winner of the Startup Founders Programme.

The main-stage showcase provided the 10 finalists with increased visibility and an opportunity to present their business models, ambitions and potential impact to investors, business leaders and international delegates.

The programme was structured around an action-oriented model of “pitch, learn, connect and showcase”. This approach gave participating businesses access to focused feedback, exposure to international markets and opportunities to test how clearly and persuasively they could communicate their value propositions.

The initiative also reflected the changing demands facing modern entrepreneurs. Founders increasingly require more than a single competition, keynote presentation or networking opportunity. Building sustainable companies can require continued access to mentors, peers, investors and potential strategic partners, together with practical knowledge of unfamiliar markets.

By bringing these elements together over three intensive days, LOSD and IBW sought to create a bridge between entrepreneurial ambition and execution.

The programme also strengthened LOSD’s wider work in skills development, lifelong learning, entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and international collaboration. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Parin Somani, LOSD has continued to develop international platforms designed to connect individuals and organisations through education, professional development and opportunities for collaboration.

For Cambridge, the gathering added another international founder-focused programme to a city widely associated with research, enterprise and innovation. For the participating startups, however, the real test begins beyond the event itself: converting introductions into meaningful relationships, feedback into stronger business strategies and increased visibility into sustainable growth.

The Startup Founders Programme ultimately demonstrated that entrepreneurship is not simply about delivering a compelling pitch. It also requires the ability to learn, adapt, build relationships and operate effectively in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

For the participating founders, the three-day programme provided an opportunity to test their ideas before an international audience while gaining perspectives that could influence their next stage of development.

For LOSD and Prof. Dr. Parin Somani, the initiative adds another dimension to the organisation’s growing international activities focused on entrepreneurship, skills development, leadership and global collaboration.

The Cambridge programme therefore concluded with more than a winner. It left participating founders with new connections, perspectives and opportunities that could help shape the next stage of their entrepreneurial journeys.