About the 1st Edition of CATALYST: Startup Law & Policy Summit 2024
Catalyst: Startup and Policy Summit 2024 was a flagship event held on 24th August 2024, organized by the Centre for Innovation, Incubation, and Legal Entrepreneurship (CIILE) at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU). The summit provided a platform for engaging discussions on the intersection of law and the startup ecosystem, focusing on emerging legal challenges and policy frameworks. The event was conducted in an offline mode and saw participation from over 25 esteemed institutions, including top law schools like HNLU, GNLU, and NALSAR. The competition was structured around the submission of research papers on relevant themes, with the top 15 papers selected for publication. The top four teams presented their papers before a panel of six distinguished judges from leading law firms. The event culminated in HNLU, Raipur winning the competition, followed by GNLU, Gandhinagar as the runner-up. The summit emphasized the importance of legal frameworks in fostering innovation, with discussions on topics such as intellectual property rights, data protection, and AI regulation. The event received positive feedback for its organization and the quality of discussions, contributing significantly to the discourse on legal entrepreneurship in India.
MODE: The competition was conducted in Offline mode.
TEAM COMPOSITION: Each team was comprised a of minimum one and a maximum of two participants.
Participating Universities: National Law University, Visakhapatnam, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow, Indian Institute of Management Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Chanakya National Law University, Patna, National Law University, Jodhpur, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, New Delhi, Damodaram Sanjivayya National, Rohtak, Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, Galgotias University, Noida, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi, School of Law, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Indore, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bangalore, National Law University, Odisha, Manipal University, Jaipur, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad, University of Lucknow, National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur
Judges and Panelists
The panel of judges comprised of six esteemed professionals of law field from tier 1 law firms, namely:
Mr. Supratim Chakraborty, Partner at Khaitan & Co., Kolkata
Mr. Shantanu Sahay, Partner at Anand & Anand, Noida
Mr. Biplab Lenin, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, New Delhi
Mr. Raghav Muthanna, Partner at IndusLaw, Bengaluru
Mr. Sameer Avasarala, Principal Associate at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys, Hyderabad
Mr. Sudarshan MJ, Senior Associate at Saikrishna & Associates, Bengaluru
Result of the 1st edition of Catalyst
Winner: HNLU, Raipur
The winning paper, “Sailing Unchartered Seas: Analyzing the Implications of the Digital Data Protection Act (DPDPA) and AI Regulation on Startup Innovation and Growth in India,” delved into the challenges startups face under the DPDPA, highlighting issues such as non-categorization of personal data and strict consent mechanisms. The authors emphasized the need for accountability, traceability, and an AI professional agency. They suggested amendments to the DPDPA, investment in AI awareness, and adherence to Hoepsman’s privacy policy as an ethics guide.
Runner-Up: GNLU, Gandhinagar
The paper highlights the challenges faced by Indian startups, focusing on domestic funding issues, legal roadblocks, and overvaluation. They emphasize the need for policy reforms, including private-public partnerships, equity crowdfunding, and reduced tax rates. The paper argues that tackling these issues requires a multifaceted approach to increase investment opportunities and ensure startup success.
