CEng. Shreekant Patil, Founder of MSMEHelp & PARENTNashik and renowned Startup India Mentor, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Global Recognition Award for exceptional leadership across India's startup ecosystem, MSME sector, and international trade networks. From 15,000 global entrants, only 5.8% received recognition through rigorous evaluation. Shreekant Patil achieved perfect 5/5 world-class scores across all four leadership dimensions: vision/strategy implementation, inspiration/motivation, ethical decision-making, and fostering innovation/creativity. CEng. Shreekant Patil has been recognized with a Global Recognition Award 2026 for high-caliber leadership and mentoring work across India's startup ecosystem, MSME sector, and international trade networks. Shreekant Patil, a senior consultant with the National Productivity Council under India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, holds roles as a Startup India mentor, Bureau of Indian Standards technical committee member, BIS, LEAN and ZED certification consultant, and brand ambassador for Wallonia, Belgium. His work addresses critical gaps in capacity building, export readiness, energy efficiency, and women's empowerment throughout micro, small, and medium enterprises while forging partnerships with government bodies, educational institutions, and international organizations. The award evaluates candidates using the Rasch model, which creates a linear measurement scale allowing precise comparison throughout diverse areas of excellence. Shreekant Patil scored five out of five (world-class) in all four leadership dimensions assessed: vision and strategy implementation, ability to inspire and motivate others, ethical decision-making and integrity, and fostering innovation and creativity within his field. Scaling Ecosystems Through Strategic Mentorship Shreekant Patil has mentored more than 100 early-stage startups and MSMEs through flagship government initiatives including BHASKAR, MAARG, BIRAC, MeitY Startup Hub, and the United Nations Development Programme's Youth Co:Lab. His mentorship accelerates product-market fit, LEAN implementation, and export-readiness timelines for businesses that often lack access to formal advisory networks. Shreekant Patil built a tiered training ecosystem comprising practitioner, master trainer, and institutional facilitator tracks to ensure quality delivery and sustained knowledge transfer throughout regions. Recognition from Youth Co:Lab and the UNDP in 2024 underscored his impact on India's innovation dialogue and springboard programs. Shreekant Patil leads LEAN and ZED certification initiatives that reduce time-to-compliance and costs for MSMEs, enabling broader market entry and participation in formal government schemes. He guides businesses in adopting energy-efficiency practices and sustainable procurement frameworks to drive cost savings and competitiveness. Shreekant Patil coordinates with export promotion councils such as APEDA, EEPC, and SEPC to secure incentives, export leads, and trade finance arrangements through Euro Exim Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. His assistance in onboarding more than 100 companies onto government platforms including ONDC, MSMEMart, and the Indian Trade Portal has expanded digital marketing reach and international export opportunities. Mr. Alex Sterling, spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards, noted Patil's comprehensive approach: "Shreekant Patil exemplifies world-class leadership by bridging technical expertise, policy engagement, and inclusive mentorship to unlock sustainable growth for businesses that form the backbone of India's economy. His ability to scale ecosystems through practical frameworks and international partnerships sets a standard for impact-driven excellence." Shreekant Patil's various blogging platforms online portfolio shows ongoing seminars on export opportunities, government schemes, and BIS certification, reflecting his commitment to transparent knowledge sharing and continuous engagement with stakeholders. What This Means: His application was evaluated by impartial industry experts using the Rasch measurement model, which is a rigorous methodology that creates objective scoring regardless of category or field. Only the highest-performing applicants receive this recognition.

CEng. Shreekant Patil honored with Top 100 digital badge for leadership and innovation in smart city development and urban startups in India. Nashik, Maharashtra – CEng. Shreekant Patil has been honored with a prestigious digital award badge by Thinkers360, recognizing him among the Top 100 experts worldwide in the Smart Cities sector. This accolade celebrates his outstanding leadership and contributions toward advancing smart city initiatives across India. CEng. Shreekant Patil has played a pivotal role in shaping smart city development through extensive collaboration with Smart Cities Councils and international partners. His efforts focus on technology transfer for MSMEs and startups, innovation mentorship for urban startups, and promoting digitalization. He actively supports funding facilitation, knowledge transfer, leadership development, and problem-solving within dynamic partnership ecosystems. Patil's expertise spans policy standardization, implementation, cross-border collaboration, funding, and risk mitigation, empowering sustainable and inclusive urban transformation. His work continues to drive innovation, cultivate partnerships, and deliver practical solutions for urban challenges. CEng Shreekant Patil is founder at PARENTNashik — (India), (100 % Export to Europe). He is Committee chairman at NIMA Startup Hub, MACCIA — Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Vice President at IBSEA, GFID & MSMECCII, Advisor at United Marathi International Chamber, GIBF, Founder member at FOEII University, Delhi, Director at Poland-India Chamber of Cooperation, Chartered Engineer with DGFT, Valuer, with 30+ years of industrial experience now working as Sr. Consultant at NPC India Under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Technical Committee Member & Resource person Rp at BIS — Bureau of Indian Standards — Govt of India and AWS — American Welding Society. Official Mentor at Govt of India Initiatives: BHASKAR, Startup India, WEP, STPI, BIRAC, AYE, MeitY Startup Hub, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, Certified LEAN, ZED, Consultant, Euro Exim Bank, AfDB, Asian Development Bank, SIDBI, United Nations, European Commissions, Registered (Govt of India) Trainer, Assessor at NSDC (Skill India), PoP at UGC, Volunteer Startup Mentor at AICTE — Vidyanjali Programme, Independent Director, Niryat Bandhu, Udyami Mitra at Khadi India, Associated with EEPC, SEPC, APEDA, Council member at International Trade Council — Business for innovation & technology, member, reviewer, mentor at Asian Council of Science Editors, IFERP, Global Harmonization Initiative, Cluster collaboration- European Union, mentor at MentorMe program of European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Sustainability Ambassador for UNSDG — SPSC- UK. Shreekant Patil has been nominated in roster of experts at UNFCCC. He is researcher fellow, author, writer. For more details and to view Shreekant Patil's digital badge, visit: https://www.thinkers360.com/tl/badge/29125/7077

Shreekant Patil receives SPSC UK Bronze Medal 2025 for leadership in advancing United Nations SDG 4 & SDG 9 and sustainability in India. India/ News — CEng. Shreekant Patil has been awarded the prestigious Bronze Medal in 2025 by the Sustainability and Productivity Standards Council (SPSC), UK. This accolade recognizes his passionate dedication, tireless efforts, enthusiasm, and empathy toward promoting sustainability and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2024, CEng. Shreekant Patil has served as the Sustainability Ambassador for SPSC in India, working closely with the United Nations to promote sustainability in Indian education and industry. His impactful work aligns primarily with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), where he mentors, builds capacity, and fosters sustainable development practices. CEng. Shreekant Patil plays a significant role in supporting students, colleges, universities, industries, MSMEs, SMEs, exporters, industry associations, startups, and government schemes aimed at fostering industrial growth in India. As a trusted mentor and consultant, he collaborates extensively with the Ministry of Education and various government initiatives to enhance education-industry linkages, skill development, and entrepreneurship ecosystems. SPSC deeply admires and aligns its purposeful actions with globally respected organizations including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), UN Environment Programme, United Nations Human Rights Council, International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Standards Organisation (ISO), United Nations University, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Inclusive Capitalism, SME Climate Hub, and Learning for Sustainability Scotland. CEng. Shreekant Patil has been recognized with the distinguished Annual Appreciation Bronze Medal (No. RABRO028842) awarded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the Sustainability and Productivity Standards Council (SPSC), UK, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to sustainability initiatives. This award further validates Shreekant Patil's role as a leading influencer committed to mobilizing industry and educational stakeholders toward an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for India and the world.

IBSEA honors Shreekant Patil on Teachers' Day 2025 for his role in building startups, uplifting MSMEs, women entrepreneurs & global exporters Delhi, India, 5th September 2025: The International Business Startup & Entrepreneurs Association (IBSEA) proudly presented the prestigious Certificate of Achievement – IBSEA Ratna Award to CEng. Shreekant Patil, Maharashtra State Vice President, renowned Startup Mentor, and visionary entrepreneur, on the special occasion of Teachers' Day September 5th, 2025 This honour recognizes his remarkable work in building a strong startup ecosystem, empowering MSMEs, supporting women entrepreneurs, and guiding exporters at both national and international levels. As a mentor and ecosystem enabler, Shreekant Patil has consistently dedicated his efforts towards uplifting emerging entrepreneurs, offering guidance, resources, and mentorship that bridges the gap between innovation and sustainable business growth. His initiatives have been pivotal in strengthening the startup ecosystem in Maharashtra and beyond, helping entrepreneurs scale their ventures and access new markets. CEng. Shreekant Patil's active contributions in MSME development have enabled countless small and medium enterprises to enhance operations, adopt modern practices, and achieve higher levels of competitiveness. By supporting women empowerment initiatives, he has encouraged women entrepreneurs to build independent, resilient businesses, fostering inclusivity within India's entrepreneurial landscape. At the same time, his dedicated mentorship for exporters has extended Indian businesses to reach international markets, boosting trade and building global recognition. Extending his congratulations, IBSEA Chairman Shri Anshuman Singh remarked: “Shreekant Patil's unwavering commitment to entrepreneurship, training, and mentorship embodies the true spirit of Teachers' Day. His vision in empowering startups, uplifting MSMEs, and guiding exporters is a significant stride toward realizing Mission Viksit Bharat 2047. His work is not only shaping capable, self-reliant individuals but also contributing directly to the nation's economic progress.” Through his association with IBSEA, CEng. Shreekant Patil has helped strengthen networks, disseminate vital knowledge, and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow and succeed. This recognition as an IBSEA Ratna Awardee highlights his enduring contribution toward building a Viksit Bharat 2047

TCK Publishing Reader's Choice Awards 2021 contest is over and so is the eight months long competition for my novel Cruel Summer. After a tough “fight” in which Cruel Summer was also in the lead for a few months, it ended up 2nd in YA and Middle Grade book category with 265 votes. Only in the last few weeks the one book beat it in winning the title of the best YA and Middle Grade book in the fifth annual Reader's Choice Awards, with 104 books competing this year. This is a great achievement. I am proud of my book and grateful to everyone who casted their votes for it! It's been a great experience and thank you all for making this competition so exciting! BJ Original post: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/cruel-summer-2nd-in-the-tck-publishing-contest

Cruel Summer won the Honorable Mention Award in the Young Adult–Social Issues category in 2021 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest! Readers' Favorite recognizes Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan in its annual international book award contest, currently available at Amazon here. The Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities. Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies. Readers' Favorite receive thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of these large submission numbers, they are able to break down their contest into 140+ genres, and each genre is judged separately, ensuring that books only compete against books of their same genre for a fairer and more accurate competition. They receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America). “When the right books are picked as winners we pay attention. We will be spreading the word about Readers' Favorite.”—Karen A., Editor for Penguin Random House Readers' Favorite is proud to announce that Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan won the Honorable Mention Award in the Young Adult–Social Issues category. You can learn more about Bernard Jan and Cruel Summer at Reader's Favorite where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages. “Bernard did a wonderful job of creating a beautifully written and compelling story that is very descriptive so that the reader feels immersed in the story. I enjoyed the detailed skateboarding stunt instructions at the start of each chapter. His characters were brilliantly written and very compelling.”—Rolanda Lyles for Readers' Favorite Please check out Cruel Summer at BookAwards.Com. Thank you. BJ Subscribe to my mailing list. Follow me on Twitter. Original post: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/readers-favorite-honorable-mention-award-for-cruel-summer

Bright green head Feathers ruffled up He says scratch His voice a squeaky Imitation He rubs his head Against my chin His beak a vice It cracks the hardest nut But for me, he gently preens My braid Until it lays in waves The ribbon in his claw His feathers green With rainbow spots Of orange, yellow, Blue and red Are covered in dander Powdered dust Kiss kiss He says The words distinct And climbs onto my shoulder One foot clinging to my ear as he Touches a razor Sharp beak To my lip Love for him Is love for me As a life-long friend Not only a pet The first voice I hear As I come home Is my parrot calling Hello, hello I open his cage, He scrambles free Lands on my shoulder And there he stays Till the clock strikes eight Bedtime for him And for me as well He sleeps on the headboard As I nap But at night Under his cover His voice calls to me Love you Night night

I have to admit, running an award program on Wattpad.com is a huge challenge and I'm glad it is someone else in the community I belong to, who has that headache. Today I realized I mistook one person for another, and without double checking made a comment on their DM which was, of course, totally out of line. One of the best and biggest skills anyone can learn is the the heart felt apology. Always admit it when you've made a mistake. Always find a way to say so to the person who was wronged. Even if it was only in your eyes. In this case my mistake could have resulted in a mega mix up, with hurt feelings and the loss of a much needed judge for the award. I'm hoping I avoided that with a quickly written synopsis of what went wrong and the fact that I didn't pay attention to the details I should have. Take it from me. Admit mistakes. Say you are sorry. And take their reaction as acceptable no matter what it might be. Their feelings and reputation could both be hurt.

'And the award goes to…' The crowd goes wild, a standing ovation with shouts of praise ringing from all around. Familiar faces past, present and future glowering with satisfaction yell 'Speech! Speech!' I stand up, my confidence glaring, my strut overconfident and my smile misplaced as I walk up the stage to receive my award. I take a stand directly under the spotlight, right in the middle of the platform. I don't need a microphone, my words come were their own amplifier, I raise a hand and a sudden hush fills the room. 'I am young,' In another world this is an advantage, to aliens, I am worth something. An able-bodied youth that will protect their homeland and one day build their economy. The welcoming of a successor to leaders in transition, a key to a luminous future. Then there is the world that I live, where I am lazy, weak and useless, a bane to the existence of my elders. I am languorous and pessimistic as I waste my life on things that do not even bring me true joy. But I was not born this way. You see at my Genesis I had a clean slate, a myriad of options lay before me. And it was the duty of the sages in my community to guide me on the right path so I could become something of substance. This is where failure began. When the so-called patriarchs of my dear land, who were too busy sniffing up white arses, brown faces turned darker by foreign faeces, to care what I was to become. My role models who myopically rob their own pockets. Fogey pregnant men that do all that is within their power to keep my realm gerontocratic, so they may never have to deliver. I ask what example can a human with no morals set. Then there are the parents, the omniscient ones that force and beat me into conformity. That tied my dreams of creativity down like a balloon to rock and thrust their version of reality upon me. "You cannot be an actor, you will be a doctor," "You cannot be an athlete when you can be a chemist," "You cannot be a musician, that is not a profession" My progenitors, their word is law, I obey. They delay my independence for the fear that I would become wayward. Suddenly I am shoved into a world I do not understand when they deem it time for me to be an adult. Ohh and I must not forget the unsung heroes of my miseducation, the teachers and the preachers. Those who instruct me on the most old fashioned and conservative way to live my life. Spent old bores that squash my free-thinking, training clones not individuals, followers not leaders, in learning centres they work on my eyes not my mind nor my heart, not even my hands. What exactly do I do with such baseless beginning? I will tell you, nothing, I just sit at home and waste my youth. So here I am with eyes but I refuse to see, a brain but I refuse to think. Will I remain a rebel in ways that only leave me with more scars or worse strive for more mediocrity? In a void-less paradigm, in a world without depth; in a country without a voice, after decades of using lies to keep me in check, I stand now stuffed on untruths and I accept your award for Repressed Nigerian Youth.

A World Without Color got a great recognition—the Gold Medal in the Fiction–Animals category in 2020 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest! Readers' Favorite recognizes A World Without Color by Bernard Jan in its annual international book award contest, currently available at Amazon. The Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities. Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies. Readers' Favorite receives thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of these large submission numbers, they are able to break down their contest into 140+ genres, and each genre is judged separately, ensuring that books only compete against books of their same genre for a fairer and more accurate competition. They receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America). “When the right books are picked as winners we pay attention. We will be spreading the word about Readers' Favorite.”—Karen A., Editor for Penguin Random House Readers' Favorite is proud to announce that A World Without Color by Bernard Jan won the Gold Medal in the Fiction–Animals category. You can learn more about Bernard Jan and A World Without Color at Readers' Favorite where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through his website and social media pages. “It is a wonderful story for fans of animals, especially cat lovers. Reading about the desolation and the loneliness of the narrator, the reader understands the place that Marcel occupied in his life as a companion . . . It is a story that explores themes of loss and grief and that celebrates a connection with a cat, a connection that brought meaning to the life of the narrator.” - Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite Please check out A World Without Color at BookAwards.Com. Thank you. BJ Original post at https://www.bernardjan.com/post/readers-favorite-gold-for-a-world-without-color.

It seems that 2020 didn't start so bad for my novella Look for Me Under the Rainbow because it was nominated for TopShelf Book Awards 2020! I was lucky that someone from either agencies, publicists, publishers, TopShelf scouts, or Insider members has recognized my book for that special honor. Thank you, whoever you are! And thank you, TopShelf Magazine, for picking my book from the crowd and giving it this opportunity. I will know if I am one of the TopShelf Book Award finalists by the end of September 2020, and the winners will be announced in the Holiday Edition of TopShelf Magazine in December 2020. BJ Source: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/topshelf-book-awards-nominee