FAD, a curated thrifting marketplace for fashion, has won the Indian Collegiate Startup Competition 2025, presented by MIDC. The event took place on Friday, 1st August, and brought together student-led startups from across India. After multiple rigorous rounds judged by founders and industry professionals, FAD emerged as the winner and is now under consideration for funding.

FAD aims to make sustainable style affordable and accessible. Even before its official launch, the startup achieved ₹4 lakh in pre-launch sales purely through ground-level validation. The team received mentorship from an IIT Kharagpur alumnus during its early stages and has cleared two rounds of a venture capital–backed cohort. Currently, FAD is incubated and supported by the Habit Foundation.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for the venture. Co-founder Paawan Matani (BTech Computer Engineering, Third year student) shared that the focus now is on scaling with a stronger team, enhanced technology, and sharper execution.