Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 24 July 2024
Directorate of Industries, in collaboration with Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), successfully organized the Startup Bootcamp 2024 in the Conference Hall of Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE). The event, conceptualized under the leadership of the Director of Industries, Mr. Abhishek Bhukal, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the education sector.
The event commenced with an inaugural session where Ms. S. Sunitha Kumari, Assistant Director (Tech), welcomed the gathering and provided an overview of the event. A total of 130 students from various streams at TGCE participated in the bootcamp.
Inaugurating the event, the chief guest, Regional Manager of SBI, Mr. Sidhartha Gupta, emphasized the importance of innovation and business over traditional government jobs for the new generation. His words resonated deeply with the audience, setting a motivational tone for the day.
Other notable dignitaries included the Principal of TGCE, Ms. Manju Lata Rao, who encouraged students to seize entrepreneurial opportunities, and the Vice President of ACCI, Mr. K. Chandrashekar, who shared his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, igniting the entrepreneurial spirit among attendees.
The technical session featured key speakers such as Mr. Rajesh Setia from TESTPAN India, who connected online via the Startup India Team, DPIIT, and delivered an insightful session on ‘Translating Business Ideas into a Sustainable Business Sector’. Mr. P.K. Ummer Farooq, Lead District Manager at SBI, discussed government support and funding for startups through financial institutions. Dr. Shrabani Mallick, Senior Lecturer of CSE and Startup Head at DBRAIT, led an activity-based session on ‘Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset, Identifying Problems to Solve, and Building Necessary Skills and Support Networks for Successful Startups in the Educational Sector’. Mr. Ebrahim N. Jadwet from ACCI deliberated on ‘Business Model Development and Commercialization’.
Additionally, Dr. T. Ganesh, Associate Professor and MBA Coordinator at Pondicherry University, spoke on developing essential startup skills like business planning, financial management, marketing, and team building.
The event also highlighted success stories of startups, including a demonstration of AR/VR technology by Mr. M. Vinod and Mr. Dinesh Lal from the DPIIT -r ecognized startup Unicorniz Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Their presentation captivated the audience, illustrating the practical application of innovative technologies. The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Shahid Khan, Industries Promotion Officer.
The Startup Bootcamp 2024 provided a comprehensive platform for budding entrepreneurs to gain valuable insights and equip themselves with the skills necessary to launch and sustain successful startups in the education sector.