Alte University's START-UP Marathon Successfully Concludes, Unveils Additional Victors and Surprising Rewards

Alte University's START-UP Marathon Successfully Concludes, Unveils Additional Victors and Surprising Rewards

From there, it's the yearly driving force behind modern business - Alte University's START-UP Marathon. This event, now running for three years and counting (as of 2025), is all about nourishing innovation and business craftsmanship among school students. Buddying up with TBC for Youth, TBC for Business, Entrepreneur Georgia, and GITA • Tech Park, this opportunity allows young minds to transform those out-of-the-box ideas into tangible business ventures[1].

The project's main focus? Encouraging entrepreneurship, crazy thinking, and sound business acumen in the young guns[2]. High schoolers across the nation are presented with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to team up with mentors and hone their concepts into crystal-clear business plans, and even score some funding to bring 'em to life.

The run-up to the big event involves a grueling, multi-staged process. It all kicks off with the call to action, inviting 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students from every school to strut their creative stuff[3]. Almost 500 students showed interest this year, leaving the jury with the tough task of selecting just 11 teams from the pool[4].

Following that, it's a time for hard work. The chosen few collaborate with mentors, absorb entrepreneurial training, and dive into mentorship programs designed to help them shape their fuzzy wants into sharp business models[4]. The final pitches went down on April 17, 2025 at Alte University, under the watchful gaze of an exclusive audience and jury[4].

Themes ranged from eco-friendly tech to educational and social issues, with AI optimizing the lives of users wrapping it all up[4]. Winners were chosen based on the brilliance of their business ideas, and were suitably rewarded with certificates and special prizes[4].

Coincidentally, participants mostly represented schools from various regions in Georgia, with many of them breaking through to the final stage[4]. In a surprising turn of events, Entrepreneur Georgia opted to support not just one, but three teams: G-AID, Astrobrain, and Sivrce[4].

Teams eager to develop their prototypes were backed by GITA • Tech Park as well. The crew behind Sivrce, G-AID, Polymorph, and Aquaguard received the nod, plus an extra mentorship program for the fourth[4]. TBC Bank also named a winner - obviously Sivrce, shelling out a cool GEL 5,000 to help bring their idea to life[4].

The Polymorph project, chosen by Alte University, is all about recycling plastic and giving it a new purpose[4]. The clever minds behind this project, hailing from the Vladimir Komarov Tbilisi School of Physics and Mathematics, are Dimitri Ardoteli, Giorgi Mikiashvili, Irakli Mekvabishvili, and Iasho Gelenidze[4]. Recognizing their ingenuity, Alte University offered the team a hefty GEL 1,000 educational grant.

Inspired by the marathon itself, the boys got their wheels in motion and came up with an idea for a machine that melts used plastic, then forms new items in molds[4]. Sounds sweet, right? Companies would reuse plastic, saving moolah, and the environment would thank us for fewer plastic waste disasters.

GEORGIA TODAY spoke to the chosen team:“As soon as we heard that Alte University was hosting such an exciting start-up marathon, we grabbed the chance and brought our idea to life,” the boys said with excitement. “Polymorph is a plastic recycling machine that produces recycled plastic for reuse. Not only does it make businesses a pretty penny, but it also protects Mother Nature. Way too much of unrecycled plastic remains on the planet, bringing about the demise of flora, fauna, and natural catastrophes. We hope our idea will bring us one step closer to solving this pressing issue[4].

“We have plans to collaborate with local companies, and then we’ll focus on conquering the international market. We are incredibly thankful to Alte University for recognizing our project and for the words of praise we received from the judges. Their support offers a significant boost and keeps us motivated.”

The crew received some high praise from the judges, who couldn’t contain their excitement over the truly innovative ideas and professionalism displayed by the 15-17-year-old students.

David Kikvidze, Dean of the Business School at Alte University, stated his interpretation:“I wholeheartedly congratulate both the winners and all the participants on their success. The marathon has been running for around two months, and we are honored to have attracted 500 participants-a remarkable achievement. It was incredibly tough to pick from so many exceptional ideas, but there had to be winners, and I think we did a decent job selecting those who took the stage today. During this time, the participants underwent various entrepreneurship trainings and mentoring programs, honing their business models and presentations. Today we witnessed the results of all that hard work. I am really happy to see this talented and knowledgeable new generation on the rise. The startup and innovation scene is crucial for any country and economy-advanced economies are built on it. Alte University understands this, and that's why we tailor our academic programs to develop entrepreneurial skills in young people.

“The Start-Up Marathon does exactly that: it fosters entrepreneurial abilities, encourages a mindset driven by innovation and technology, and sets the wheels in motion from the get-go. I believe we have achieved great results today, as we saw so many young people actively involved and engaged in this field. Alte University has been running the Start-Up Marathon for three years now, and I can confidently say that the quality of the projects and ideas presented improves with each passing year. I believe this year was no exception. I am genuinely amazed by their ideas-ideas that even some grown-ups might not have.”

Levan Gobejishvili, Head of Commercial Operations for Micro Business at TBC Bank, shared his thoughts on the 2025 marathon and its participants: "Together with Alte University, TBC Bank, Entrepreneur Georgia, and GITA • Tech Park, it has turned out to be quite an engaging event. It's simply awesome that the younger generation is pondering over business development. Today they presented some fascinating ideas that aim to tackle global challenges.

“Placemaking across different sectors is crucial in supporting such ideas-educational institutions like Alte University, as well as private organizations, play a significant role. TBC Catalyst was the first to introduce the startup project to the banking sector in 2017, and ever since then, we have been actively backing innovative initiatives and ventures, collaborating with various partners.

“I believe our partnership with Alte University has been prosperous and successful. We've been working together for three years now, and with each passing year, we are treated to some mind-bending projects.”

Aleksandre Siradze, Executive Director of Entrepreneur Georgia, expressed his viewpoint: “Entrepreneur Georgia has been the media partner of the Start-Up Marathon for years. School students must be encouraged to dream up their own business ideas-how to start and expand their own ventures. Many have concepts, but often those ideas remain just that-ideas. Events like this help cultivate entrepreneurial skills, which ultimately equips students with the abilities modern entrepreneurs need to make their dreams a reality. Entrepreneur Georgia has been supporting this initiative by Alte University from the very beginning, and most importantly, we find joy in seeing the quality and caliber of student-led projects improve each year. The students are coming into this more and more confident each time. This year was no exception. I am genuinely floored by their thinking and ideas-ideas that even some grown-ups might not have.”

The START-UP Marathon just isn't a competition-it's a real opportunity for young people to find investors, evolve, and with the help of the organizers, implement their innovative business projects. The 2022 finalist, Zurab Tsiklauri, solidified his place as a finalist in GITA's GEL 150,000 grant program thanks to the 2022 edition. Furthermore, the team "Robobook," who snagged the TBC grant in the 2022 marathon, began manufacturing an interactive book with a groundbreaking method of teaching robotics. The winners of the 2023 marathon were "Robofarmia" and "DIDOSTATY." The TBC New Generation and TBC Startupper's chosen team, Robofarmia, received a GEL 5,000 bonus, and was also chosen by Alte University, pocketing an extra cash prize from the university[3]. Alte University handed another team, DIDOSTATY, an educational grant, while the Innovation and Technology Agency of Georgia aided them in prototyping and participating in various grant competitions[3].

This article was contributed by: Ana Dumbadze.

1. The Alte University's START-UP Marathon, now in its third year, is a yearly driving force behind modern business, focusing on nourishing entrepreneurship, business craftsmanship, and innovation among school students.
2. High schoolers across the nation are presented with an opportunity to team up with mentors and hone their concepts into crystal-clear business plans, and even score some funding to bring them to life, during Alte University's START-UP Marathon.
3. Winners of Alte University's START-UP Marathon are suitably rewarded with certificates and special prizes, also experiencing education-and-self-development programs that help prepare them for the business world.
4. Technology plays a significant role in the START-UP Marathon, with themes including eco-friendly tech, AI, and education, which are vital for the success of modern business ventures.

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