YoToyz Wins WalkAbout Demo Day for Entrepreneurs Over 55

YoToyz, a Pune venture building fabric-based learning kits for young children, won the Demo Day that closed WalkAbout's Startup Accelerator Program for entrepreneurs aged 55 and above on October 31, 2026. The pitch event, held at SPJIMR in Andheri West, Mumbai, capped a 12-week program that supported 100 entrepreneurs, all of them 55 or older.

Founder Yogesh Kulkarni, 56, spent more than 25 years in the classroom before starting YoToyz. The company, at www.yotoyz.com, describes its product as India's first fully fabric-based early-years curriculum: washable, sensory-rich learning kits designed as an alternative to plastic toys and screens. Women artisans in Pune make the kits, gaining what WalkAbout calls steady, dignified work.

The jury cited YoToyz for the clarity of its business, its market understanding, its creativity and the social impact built into the model. As part of the program's continued support, YoToyz will receive funding tied to the achievement of key business milestones, plus ongoing mentorship to turn its plans into action and support future growth.

Who judged the pitches?

WalkAbout, India's peer-to-peer community for active agers, assembled a jury of seasoned leaders for the finalists:

• Dr. Shweta Loonkar, Co-Founder and Director, KS Publication Pathway LLP
• Puneet Kapoor, Partner, SVP India, formerly with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Citibank and American Express
• Vivek Bhatnagar, business leader and entrepreneur
• Aiswarya Simon, Associate, WISE Tech, SPJIMR
• Deval Delivala, Founder and CEO, WalkAbout
• Ashwini Kapila, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer, WalkAbout

Finalists, selected for progress and readiness, shared their entrepreneurial journeys and outlined growth plans. Their ventures spanned senior living, consumer products, apparel and accessories, education services, and arts and crafts.

What did the 12 weeks involve?

Participants worked through practical online business sessions, in-person workshops, peer learning groups and one-on-one mentorship from WalkAbout Startup Advisors. They refined their products, pricing and brand stories, and each finished the program with a clear business plan.

Deval Delivala, CEO and Founder of WalkAbout, said: "It was inspiring to see the WalkAbout Startup Accelerator cohort pitch their ventures, share the journeys behind their businesses and present their vision for growth. Our members bring decades of skills, networks and resilience, and seeing them turn that experience into enterprise is a reminder that ambition has no age limit. Beyond building businesses, this journey is about creating income, purpose, confidence and new possibilities at every stage of life."

WISE Tech at SPJIMR backed the effort. Manoj Mohan, Executive Director of WISE Tech, SPJIMR, said: "Startup success stories often celebrate young entrepreneurs, but Colonel Sanders of KFC reminds us that some of the most remarkable entrepreneurial journeys can unfold later in life. In sectors such as FinTech and B2B, decades of industry experience, deep customer understanding and professional networks can be powerful competitive advantages. WISE Tech was pleased to support WalkAbout in unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of individuals aged 55 and above."

What happens after Demo Day?

The accelerator's impact doesn't stop at the final pitches. Participants who missed the finals or sponsorship will stay in the WalkAbout Entrepreneur Circle, a founder community with access to meetups, expert sessions and future cohorts. WalkAbout says that continued support system should help 55-plus entrepreneurs sustain momentum, strengthen their businesses and pursue new opportunities beyond the program.

For WalkAbout, the bet is that India's aging population holds untapped founders, not just consumers. The next test is whether milestone-linked funding and the Entrepreneur Circle can convert a 12-week program into durable, revenue-generating businesses run by people the startup world usually overlooks.