The ET Startup Awards 2024 jury meeting was a Wednesday evening to remember at The Leela Palace in Bengaluru. The event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and even a star cricketer, Shubman Gill, who was the center of attention. Sumer Juneja, Managing Partner at SoftBank, walked in with a white cricket ball to get Gill’s autograph for his ten-year-old son in London.
CaratLane founder Mithun Sacheti also surprised his son by getting Gill’s signature. BrowserStack CEO Ritesh Arora wished he had come prepared with paper and pen.
Lenskart crowned startup of 2024
The jurors praised the variety of technology-led businesses competing across different categories, including campus startups, social enterprises, women-led ventures, and bootstrapped companies. They also discussed the quick-commerce boom in India and whether the high valuations were justified. After intense discussions and secret ballot voting, the jurors chose eyewear company Lenskart as the Startup of the Year 2024.
The jurors carefully considered the merits of each contender, especially for the Investor with the Midas Touch and Startup of the Year categories, which had six contestants each, up from five in previous years. The day was filled with friendly banter, highlighting the strong connections within India’s growing startup sector. The event showcased how youth, experience, and execution skills are coming together to create high-quality ventures in the country.
