'Studentpreneurs' steal the limelight at expo

The latest edition, the third one, showcased lifestyle products from 50 exhibitors.

48 out of 50 exhibitors were women. And four exhibitors were "Studentpreneurs" from Oakridge International School. These student entrepeneurs include: Raveena's World, Sneha Jain, Scented Summer Spray of Amulya Adusmilli & Niharika Bodla; Persia's Jewellery Empire by Arissa Sur.

The one day event focused on ethical, affordable and sustainable fashion and lifestyle.

Says Kamini Saraf, of Fashion Yatra, the force behind the event: "We have envisaged Pretx as a one-of-a-kind expo that merges vibrant style with a flea market vibe.

You can expect a gala where fashion, food and fun are uniquely packaged together, unlike anything the city has ever seen!"

The expo was an irresistible mix of clothes, curios, jewelry, home décor, music, food, games and women, youth and student entrepreneurs.

'My mom is an artist. I got inspired by her.

I made a cousin of mine courier pebbles from River Ganges.

I have hand painted each of these 100 pebbles. It took two hours to paint each of these pebbles, which can be used as decorative items, paper weights and what not.

I sell them from Rs 100 to 600 explained Raveena, a fifth class student of Oakridge International School, Nanakramguda.

She had her stall along with many established and enterprising women at Pretx.

Sneha Jalan, another fifth class student of Oakridge School showcased Bath Bombs which are round shaped soaps, which have to be diluted in water and then take the bath.

Sneha named "BathWishWish" her company, she developed CRED BOMBS, organic Bath bombs.

These days, people use cosmetics that have chemicals which are harmful to our skin.

So we came up with a quick and easy organic solution, a brilliant idea to cater to the needs of the people.

My inspiration venturing out on my StartUp is my habit of using all herbal and organic products for my skin on Sundays, which I feel will be a good habit for others too, says Sneha very confidently.

Her mother Radhika Jalan is very proud of her daughter.

Nine year old NIharika Bodla and 10- year- old Amulya Adusumilli embarked on their journey of entrepreneurship while studying at Oakridge International School.

Their product, Scented Summer Spray, is also the name of their company.

It is a perfume and room freshener.

This scented fragrance is also keeps human beings cool during this summer weather says both girls very confidently.

Arissa Sur, a ten-year- old fifth standard student is fascinated by jewellery. So she established a company named "Persia's Jewellery Empire".

These are handmade ear rings. I like wearing jewellery.

So instead of buying jewellery I wanted to make my own jewellery, she states. As a result of this quest I have come out with novel ear rings made out of colourful threads, she explains.

Ruchika Agarwal, the founder of Banter is a 23-year- old girl, a food startup.

She has done MS from New York. 'I studied Digital Marketing and Web Analytics.

And I interned with a food company in New York. I sold Indian food in The latest edition, the third one, showcased lifestyle products from 50 exhibitors.

48 out of 50 exhibitors were women. And four exhibitors were "Studentpreneurs" from Oakridge International School. These student entrepeneurs include: Raveena's World, Sneha Jain, Scented Summer Spray of Amulya Adusmilli & Niharika Bodla; Persia's Jewellery Empire by Arissa Sur.

The one day event focused on ethical, affordable and sustainable fashion and lifestyle.

Says Kamini Saraf, of Fashion Yatra, the force behind the event: "We have envisaged Pretx as a one-of-a-kind expo that merges vibrant style with a flea market vibe.

You can expect a gala where fashion, food and fun are uniquely packaged together, unlike anything the city has ever seen!"

The expo was an irresistible mix of clothes, curios, jewelry, home décor, music, food, games and women, youth and student entrepreneurs.

'My mom is an artist. I got inspired by her.

I made a cousin of mine courier pebbles from River Ganges.

I have hand painted each of these 100 pebbles. It took two hours to paint each of these pebbles, which can be used as decorative items, paper weights and what not.

I sell them from Rs 100 to 600 explained Raveena, a fifth class student of Oakridge International School, Nanakramguda.

She had her stall along with many established and enterprising women at Pretx.

Sneha Jalan, another fifth class student of Oakridge School showcased Bath Bombs which are round shaped soaps, which have to be diluted in water and then take the bath.

Sneha named "BathWishWish" her company, she developed CRED BOMBS, organic Bath bombs.

These days, people use cosmetics that have chemicals which are harmful to our skin.

So we came up with a quick and easy organic solution, a brilliant idea to cater to the needs of the people.

My inspiration venturing out on my StartUp is my habit of using all herbal and organic products for my skin on Sundays, which I feel will be a good habit for others too, says Sneha very confidently.

Her mother Radhika Jalan is very proud of her daughter.

Nine year old NIharika Bodla and 10- year- old Amulya Adusumilli embarked on their journey of entrepreneurship while studying at Oakridge International School.

Their product, Scented Summer Spray, is also the name of their company.

It is a perfume and room freshener.

This scented fragrance is also keeps human beings cool during this summer weather says both girls very confidently.

Arissa Sur, a ten-year- old fifth standard student is fascinated by jewellery. So she established a company named "Persia's Jewellery Empire".

These are handmade ear rings. I like wearing jewellery.

So instead of buying jewellery I wanted to make my own jewellery, she states. As a result of this quest I have come out with novel ear rings made out of colourful threads, she explains.

Ruchika Agarwal, the founder of Banter is a 23-year- old girl, a food startup.

She has done MS from New York. 'I studied Digital Marketing and Web Analytics.

And I interned with a food company in New York. I sold Indian food in New York.

That is when I struck with the idea Banter. New York has too many of such food stores.

I came back to India to start my own startup. Everyone in India is going for wrong diets.

I want to provide healthy and yummy alternative food options to people of all ages'.

The initial response to her products, which she makes out of her home along with her mother, was very good and encouraging.

Looking at the overwhelming response, she is seriously planning to expand her line of products. She also wants to get into breads.

She has invested couple of lakhs. People have a lot of wrong information about cashews and other nuts. But they are very healthy. I want to target young mothers, she says.

Little Gestures was another stall by a wedding planning company which showcased gifting and packaging products developed by three NGOs—"Safa", "Shradda" and "Kadam".

These natural products speak volumes about them.

'Take one product for example: Coconut shell and Indigenous wood crafts". It is an emerging livelihood generation handicraft for the rural artisans of West Bengal' informed Meenakshi Gupta.

This craft was practiced by a few families, but is now spreading and more and more youth are driven to making everyday products with the same, she added.

'Another interesting product on display was bags made of Sabali grass.

This again is an emerging livelihood generation, handicraft product for the rural women of West Bengal. The grass is very sturdy and strong and long lasting, she stated.

No plastic is used in making these products.

Only reusable material is used.

Bags were made from discarded Cement Bags' threads', she informed.

All these students entrepreneurs like their elder peers were very professional in presentation and pitching for their products.

They developed a brochure and also had a visiting card.

.

That is when I struck with the idea Banter. New York has too many of such food stores.

I came back to India to start my own startup. Everyone in India is going for wrong diets.

I want to provide healthy and yummy alternative food options to people of all ages'.

The initial response to her products, which she makes out of her home along with her mother, was very good and encouraging.

Looking at the overwhelming response, she is seriously planning to expand her line of products. She also wants to get into breads.

She has invested couple of lakhs. People have a lot of wrong information about cashews and other nuts. But they are very healthy. I want to target young mothers, she says.

Little Gestures was another stall by a wedding planning company which showcased gifting and packaging products developed by three NGOs—"Safa", "Shradda" and "Kadam".

These natural products speak volumes about them.

'Take one product for example: Coconut shell and Indigenous wood crafts". It is an emerging livelihood generation handicraft for the rural artisans of West Bengal' informed Meenakshi Gupta.

This craft was practiced by a few families, but is now spreading and more and more youth are driven to making everyday products with the same, she added.

'Another interesting product on display was bags made of Sabali grass.

This again is an emerging livelihood generation, handicraft product for the rural women of West Bengal. The grass is very sturdy and strong and long lasting, she stated.

No plastic is used in making these products.

Only reusable material is used.

Bags were made from discarded Cement Bags' threads', she informed.

All these students entrepreneurs like their elder peers were very professional in presentation and pitching for their products.

They developed a brochure and also had a visiting card.