Vet varsity’s innovation event draws global experts, investors

The Vety and Livestock Innovation and Incubation Foundation (VLIIF), a Section 8 company of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), organised ‘Pitchquest 2.0’ on Saturday. The event brought together international experts, investors and promising startups.

RS Sethi, Director, VLIIF, said the event was designed to promote entrepreneurship in veterinary and allied sectors and provide innovators a platform to present their ideas before mentors and funding agencies. The programme was attended by global experts including Klaus Osterrieder, president, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Baljit Singh, vice-president of research, University of Saskatchewan, Canada; Alix Hayden, Director, Innovation Mobilization & Partnerships, University of Saskatchewan; and Munish Jindal, Director General, LUCR8 Ventures.

RS Grewal, Director of Extension Education, highlighted that such initiatives were vital for strengthening innovation-driven growth in veterinary and livestock sectors. He reiterated GADVASU’s commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurs through mentorship and incubation support. Hayden appreciated the proactive efforts of VLIIF, noting that innovation and collaboration were central to economic growth and sustainable development. Osterrieder encouraged startups to focus on research-driven, scalable solutions capable of addressing global challenges. Jindal underlined the significance of strategic investor engagement and sustainable business models, while Baljit Singh stressed the importance of international collaboration in building strong research ecosystems.

GADVASU Vice-Chancellor JPS Gill attended as the chief guest. He said universities played a pivotal role in catalysing entrepreneurship and called upon all stakeholders to work collectively towards developing solutions to real-world problems.