Over 50 per cent of India’s population is under the age of 25, says Shreyans Jain, co-founder of the Under 25 Summit. “There is so much potential and so much creative talent. But young people usually restrict themselves to science or commerce fields when it comes to careers,” he adds. Through the Under 25 Summit,he aims to enable the next generation to explore other fields and opportunities.
This year’s event has speakers such as Danny Casale, an animator better known as Coolman Coffeedan on Instagram, Anand Ahuja, founder of fashion label VegNonVeg and Bhane, comedian Rohan Joshi and more. One of the highlights is a session titled Fireside Chat by Elie Seidman, the CEO of Tinder, who will be in conversation with co-founder of the fest, Anto Philip.
“With millions of young, single smartphone users, and a shifting cultural paradigm where youth want more say in the people they love, date and marry, I believe India promises a lot of potential. Our data and experiences in the market show India’s Gen Z is shaping the views and culture of the country,” says Elie.
More than just career opportunities, the summit also explores the shift in where and how the youth express themselves nowadays. Chef Thomas Zacharias, popular on social media as @cheftzac, will be taking the stage at the session “A new era of storytelling and content.” The chef considers himself a storyteller of regional Indian food, and that’s what he will be talking about in his session. “I think the food and beverage industry is at a point where we are paying homage to our own roots. And the next generation is much more connected to their Indian roots than we were in our early 20s,” he says, adding that most of his followers on social media are older, so he is looking forward to connecting with a younger audience.
“This year, we have focused more on making it an experiential event than just having big-name speakers. Hence, we also have various pop-ups and zones that add value to the festival,” Anto sums up.
Highlights
The Red Bull Tour Bus will have performances by Malayalam rock band Avial, post-rock band Aswekeepsearching and pop-rock band When Chai Met Toast.
A pop-up library and a Board Game Zone where attendees can play classic games such as Monopoly and Scrabble
An Ice-Breaker Zone, where you can meet and interact with people in under one minute (in a speed-dating format)
A Job Zone where companies from different sectors such as media, F&B and more will set up stalls to discuss job opportunities
Rs. 750 upwards. Feb 2-3, 9 am. At Jayamahal Palace
anagha@newindianexpress.com
@anaghzzz