CavinKare and MMA Honour Three Groundbreaking Ventures at the 14th Edition of the ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards 2025
Chennai, 20th September, 2025: Spotlighting entrepreneurs whose breakthroughs create a lasting impact on society, CavinKare, jointly with the Madras Management Association (MMA), hosted the 14th edition of the ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards 2025. Held at IIT Madras Research Park Auditorium, this annual award property which aims at discovering hidden entrepreneurial talents, honoured three innovative ventures for creating the next wave of solutions that solve real problems and inspire progress. Mr. R Dinesh , Executive Chairman, TVS Supply Chain Solutions presided over the event as the Chief Guest along with key industry figures and dignitaries in attendance.
Each winning venture was awarded ₹1 lakh, a trophy, and a citation, along with access to CavinKare’s in-depth industry support, spanning -marketing, finance, design, packaging, R&D, and HR to help scale their innovations for real-world impact. Instituted in 2011 in memory of the visionary Late Shri R. ChinniKrishnan, whose innovations significantly spearheaded the FMCG industry, the award, since its inception, has recognized and celebrated 39 exemplary entrepreneurial ventures from across India.
Speaking at the event, Mr. CK Ranganathan, Chairman & Managing Director of CavinKare, remarked, “Today, we celebrate the visionary innovators whose ideas are transforming lives and shaping a brighter tomorrow. The ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards honor individuals who go beyond imagination, turning creativity into practical solutions that tackle real-world challenges with purpose, courage, and impact. Over the years, the award has showcased a diverse community of trailblazers who transform obstacles into opportunities, proving that thinking, perseverance, and relentless dedication can drive meaningful change. The achievements of these innovators remind us that true innovation is about creating solutions that improve lives, redefine possibilities, and inspire others to think differently. By recognizing these exceptional winners, we not only celebrate their accomplishments but also highlight the power of vision and action in shaping the future.”
Mr Lakshminarayanan Duraiswamy, President, Madras Management Association, also shared his thoughts: MMA is proud to partner with the CavinKare ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards for over a decade, celebrating innovation and inclusivity at a national level. The 300-plus nominations received this year highlight the exponential growth of India’s innovation ecosystem. These awards honour the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our economy and pave the way for a more prosperous and inclusive future.”
The 14th Edition of the ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards 2025 saw an overwhelming response with 306 applications received from across the country. The entries were rigorously evaluated by a national jury panel comprising – Mr Rahul Mammen Mappillai, Managing Director, MRF Limited, Mr Hari Thiagarajan K, Managing Director, Thiagarajar Mills (P) Ltd, Ms Ganga Priya Chakraverti, Managing Director,
Ford Business Solutions – India, Mr Sethuraman, Chartered Accountant, Mr Ranjit Pratap, Managing Director, Rayala Corporation Pvt Ltd, and Dr L S Ganesh, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University; under the guidance of process advisor Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. The panel shortlisted and selected the top three ventures for their uniqueness, scalability, and social impact.
Winners of the 14th CavinKare-MMA ChinniKrishnan Innovation Awards 2025:
Avay Biosciences – Pioneering 3D Bioprinting for Drug Trials
Avay Biosciences has unveiled a breakthrough 3D bioprinting platform that eliminates the need for animal testing in preclinical drug trials. Using patient-derived tissues, the platform creates precise 3D models to evaluate drugs with greater accuracy. The innovation speeds up time-to-market, reduces costs, and enables personalized drug testing, setting a new benchmark in ethical and efficient drug development.
Dhanvantri Biomedical Pvt Ltd – Introducing the Sahayatha Wheelchair
Dhanvantri Biomedical Pvt Ltd has developed the Sahayatha Wheelchair, the world’s first wheelchair with an integrated toilet, cleaning system, and water storage. Designed for individuals who cannot access conventional toilets due to age, medical conditions, accidents, or disabilities, the Sahayatha Wheelchair empowers users to defecate, urinate, and clean themselves independently—restoring dignity and reducing dependence on caregivers.This groundbreaking innovation marks a significant step toward inclusive healthcare and patient-centric mobility solutions.
Urdhvam Environmental Technologies Pvt Ltd – Reviving Borewells with Smart Rainwater Harvesting
Urdhvam Environmental Technologies Pvt Ltd has developed the ‘Bore Charger’, a patented smart rainwater harvesting system that restores low-yielding or dry borewells without the need for construction or maintenance. The system uses a robotic tool to perforate the casing pipe at hydrogeologically suitable depths, enabling rainwater to directly recharge deeper aquifers that usually replenish very slowly. This low-cost, sustainable innovation boosts water yield, duration, and quality, offering a transformative solution for groundwater conservation and management.
About CavinKare: CavinKare is a diversified FMCG major with business interest in personal care, professional care, dairy, snacks, foods, beverages & salons. The brand portfolio consists of Shampoos (CHIK, Meera, Karthika, and Nyle), Hair Wash Powders (Meera &Karthika), Coconut Oil (Meera), skin creams (Fairever & Spinz), Deodorant; Talc (Spinz), Pickles (Ruchi & Chinni’s) and Snacks (Garden), Hair colors (Indica), Retail Salon Products (Raaga Professional), Beverages (Maa), Dairy (Cavin’s), Beauty Salons (Green Trends & Limelite), and D2C Personal Care products (Buds and Berries). Most of the brands are clear winners in their respective product categories. A dedicated R & D center equipped with the latest equipment and technologies constantly supports the divisions in their endeavor.
CavinKare has achieved significant milestones and a competitive edge with a sound understanding of mass marketing dynamics and has established a firm foothold in the national market. CavinKare’s success is based on it being firmly grounded to its corporate mission ‘We shall grow significantly better than the industry by fostering innovation and building preferred brands, through passionate and delighted employees’.
About Madras Management Association (MMA): Madras Management Association (MMA) was established in 1956 with the objective of promoting management education, training and development activities in this part of the country. The vision of MMA is: “To be the fountainhead of world-class management excellence in India.” With over 8000 corporate houses, professionals, academics and executives as members, MMA fosters and nurtures management expertise by combining Indian ethos with global management thoughts and practices. Every year, MMA organizes about 756 executive development activities, including seminars for top management. Over 4,00,000 executives and entrepreneurs have participated in MMA’s regular events. Madras Management Association is the largest affiliate member of All India Management Association (AIMA). It has been adjudged the Best Management Association in India by AIMA for fifteen times in a row, including for the year 2024 -25. MMA has local chapters in Ambur, Attur, Erode, Hosur, Namakkal, Salem, Sri City, Trichy, Puducherry, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram. Apart from corporate leaders, MMA Managing Committee also includes as members the Vice Chancellors of Madras University and Anna University, and the Directors of IIT Madras, and the Chief Secretary of Government of Tamil Nadu.
