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Food for thought pays off: Swiggy crowns IIM Lucknow at the student challenge
Bengaluru: Proof that good ideas, like good food, travel fast. Swiggy has announced the winners of the first edition of its Food For Thought Challenge, a nationwide case study competition that invited students to reimagine how India’s leading food delivery platform can deepen its bond with campus life.
IIM Lucknow emerged as the winner, impressing the jury with ideas to create more meaningful student engagement across food delivery and dining out. The team walked away with pre-placement interviews at Swiggy and a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh. IIM Indore was named first runner-up and received ₹50,000. Teams from IIM Bengaluru and MICA Ahmedabad were among the other finalists.
Launched in September 2025, the Food For Thought Challenge drew strong interest nationwide, with more than 2,600 submissions from over 600 colleges. Over 30 per cent of entries came from premier institutions, including the IIMs, IITs and NITs, underscoring Swiggy’s growing resonance with India’s student community.
The finale, held in Bengaluru, was chaired by Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor. Submissions were evaluated through a rigorous, multi-stage process based on innovation, growth impact, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness. From thousands of ideas, eight teams advanced to the semi-finals before four made it to the grand finale.
Swiggy Vice President for Food Strategy, Customer Experience, and New Initiatives, Deepak Maloo, said the initiative was designed to tap into students’ instinctive creativity. “College students are more than just customers; they are catalysts for innovation. The ideas we saw combined data-driven thinking with disruptive imagination, and many of them have the potential to shape how we enhance customer experience going forward,” he said.
Swiggy plans to make Food For Thought an annual platform, strengthening its engagement with campuses and nurturing a pipeline of young talent keen to influence the future of food tech and logistics. The initiative complements Swiggy’s broader student-focused efforts, including its Student Rewards Programme and Campus Streaks, which currently reach over seven lakh students across more than 3,600 campuses.
As the company continues to serve millions every day, Swiggy’s message to students is clear: the next big idea could be just one smart pitch away.
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FSS names Anand Krishnamurthi head of global digital delivery
Tech veteran to drive AI-first, cloud-led transformation in payments globally
CHENNAI: Financial Software and Systems (FSS), an AI-first payment infrastructure company, has appointed Anand Krishnamurthi as head of global digital delivery.
In his new role, Anand Krishnamurthi will lead FSS’s global digital delivery capabilities, focusing on AI-first and cloud-led transformation while ensuring predictable, high-quality outcomes for customers worldwide. He will be based in Chennai and report to V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS.
Bringing 28 years of experience in technology and digital transformation across banking, capital markets, financial services, and insurance, Anand has held senior leadership positions at Cognizant and NuSummit. He is recognised for scaling multi-geography delivery teams, leading mission-critical platforms, and embedding AI-driven automation in complex, regulated environments.
“What drew me to FSS is its deep payments expertise, strong product DNA, and the scale at which its platforms power real-world financial ecosystems,” said Anand Krishnamurthi. “I aim to strengthen delivery predictability, execution rigor, and engineering quality, building empowered teams that deliver measurable customer outcomes. FSS has a unique opportunity to create real-time, AI-infused payments infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and globally scalable.”
V. Balasubramanian added, “Anand’s track record in leading multi-geography delivery programs and AI-first operating models makes him the ideal leader for FSS as we accelerate our AI-driven digital payments business. His leadership will help us raise the bar for outcomes globally.”
This appointment is part of FSS’s broader push to build an AI-powered, cloud-native delivery organisation capable of meeting the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and financial institutions worldwide.
