AI, health, finance: test your business creativity with Edition 187 of our weekly quiz!

Lateral Sparks, the weekly quiz from YourStory, tests your domain knowledge, business acumen, and lateral thinking skills (see the previous edition here). In this 187th edition of the quiz, we present issues tackled by real-life entrepreneurs in their startup journeys.

What would you do if you were in their shoes? At the end of the quiz, you will find out what the entrepreneurs and innovators themselves actually did. Would you do things differently?

Check out YourStory’s Book Review section as well, with takeaways from over 355 titles on creativity and entrepreneurship, and our weekend PhotoSparks section on creativity in the arts.

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Q1: EV charging

A critical gap in the electric vehicle (EV) landscape is charging point discoverability. The EV charging ecosystem is fragmented, with numerous players providing EV charging solutions but working in silos. How can this pain point be addressed?

Q2: Autism

Parents whose children are diagnosed with autism face severe emotional stress. There are also challenges in identifying and collaborating with those who can provide help. How can this problem be tackled?

Q3: Financial trading

Consumers are entering the stock trading market in large numbers, but many are losing money. How can this situation be improved in an effective and viable manner for retail traders?

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Q4: Satellite data

Thermal imagery from space data is still underutilised, and its commercial application is not yet fully tapped. How can such thermal data be made more useful, accessible and affordable?

Q5: Farmer finance

Smallholder farmers form an important part of the economy – yet they remain underserved with respect to formal financial services. How can this crucial funding gap be bridged?

Answers!

Congratulations on having come this far! But there’s more to come – answers to these five questions (below), as well as links to articles with more details on the entrepreneurs’ solutions. Happy reading, happy learning – and happy creating!

A1: EV charging

Founded by Charles Nadar, the startup EVJoints helps owners access the nearest charging station through its app, which serves as a unified platform for EV owners to identify and book charging stations across different networks. It tracks real-time availability, and also helps plan routes more efficiently.

The platform links EV users to a growing network of over 6,000+ public charging points, spanning major cities as well as highways, malls, and residential complexes. Read more here about how its partnerships with players like Voltran, Verde Mobility, Massive Mobility, EVGateway, Urzaa EV, and YoCharge.

A2: Autism

Founded by Shivendra Upadhyay and Bibha Kumari, the Twinklez Centre for Autism empowers 400 children with autism in Bengaluru. Its mobile app called Krivi.ai offers a comprehensive, data-driven, and collaborative approach for the ecosystem of autism management.

It acts as a centralised hub connecting parents, therapy centres, therapists, educators, and researchers. Read more here about its AI-driven analytics and reporting module which transforms data into actionable insights, and its use of storytelling, using initiatives like Parenting Journeys and Unseen Strengths.

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A3: Financial trading

Founded by Pranit Arora, Avneet Dhamija, and Vikash Agrawal, Univest blends AI with human intelligence to deliver personalised, data-backed trading insights. It delivers structured support to retail investors in areas like stock selection, risk management, and trade timing.

One of the biggest blind spots in retail investing is knowing when to exit. “Univest isn’t just about faster trades; it’s about smarter ones,” says Arora. Read more here about its research subscriptions and brokerage services, and its aim to scale its annual recurring revenue from Rs 100 crore to Rs 1,000 crore in 2026.

A4: Satellite data

The deeptech startup SatLeo Labs specialises in capturing thermal imaging and visible data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. It uses thermal imaging to bring about actionable eco-friendly change in multiple key sectors.

“We are pioneering a dual-band, high-resolution thermal payload designed for fused multispectral imaging—empowering sustainable solutions across agriculture, environmental conservation, climate-resilient urban planning, and strategic defence,” explains Ranendu Ghosh, Co-founder and CTO of SatLeo Labs. Read more about its funding journey here.

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A5: Farmer finance

Co-founded by Sucharita Mukherjee, fintech startup Kaleidofin is collaborating with the IDH Farmfit Fund to create specialised financial products catering to the unique needs of farmers. Its scoring instruments help lenders deepen their agri portfolios while improving risk management.

“Enhanced underwriting and tailoring of smallholder farmer loans, coupled with more efficient origination and distribution, can catalyse the flow of appropriate credit to this underserved segment across India and other markets,” says Som Toohey, Investment Director, IDH Investment Management. Read more about Kaleidofin’s fundraising journey here.

YourStory has also published the pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups’ as a creative and motivational guide for innovators (downloadable as apps here: Apple, Android).