The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with TotalStart, Villgro and TiE Kolkata organised Unconventional Kolkata event on September 11th at the Bengal Chamber premises.

Unconventional is a platform that offers a combination of initiatives focused on inspiring, discovering and nurturing social enterprises that have the potential for high impact on the lives of the poor in India.

At the Unconventional Pitch, budding entrepreneurs had the opportunity to present their idea for a for-profit business with social impact, to a panel of experts comprising Villgro mentors, successful social entrepreneurs, social incubators and seed investors.

The winner of the Unconventional Pitch:

Unconventional Kolkata Pitch 'Enterprise Stage' winner - Rs. 1 Lakh

Name of the Entrepreneur: Nupur Mukherjee Name of the Enterprise: Rescue Enterprise Description: Manufacturing of low-cost sanitary napkin by engaging SHG's in rural parts of Bengal.

Unconventional Kolkata Pitch 'Idea Stage' winner - Rs. 50000

Name of the Entrepreneur: Koondinabha Mitra, Srivatsa Kandukuri, Kanjakha Pal Name of the Enterprise: Portable Diagnostic Center Enterprise description: Providing cost effective diagnostic solutions to rural India.

Pitch Judging Panel and Event speakers: Dr. Suryanil Ghosh, Chairman, Bengal Chamber Entrepreneurship Development Cell PR Ganapathy, President, Villgro India Ganesh B, Founder SkillTrain Devendra Gupta, Co-founder, Ecozen solutions