The DST-UoH-Technology Enabling Centre (DST-UoH-TEC) successfully conducted a workshop on ‘Entrepreneurship as a Career Opportunity’ at the Zakir Hussain Lecture Hall Complex, University of Hyderabad on 18th August, 2023. The workshop was designed to inculcate and nurture entrepreneurial skills among its diverse participants comprising students, research scholars, young scientists and faculty members. The workshop brought together illustrious speakers from academia and the startup ecosystem to provide insights into a spectrum of topics including innovation, entrepreneurship, funding, business models, inspirational founders, and more.
In his inaugural address, Prof. G.S. Prasad, Director TIE-U and Coordinator of DST-UoH-TEC, underscored the pivotal role of innovation in the development of a nation. He went on to share about the innovation ecosystem that the University of Hyderabad has fostered during last decade, and about organization of innovation and entrepreneurship programs under the Technology Industrial Liaison & Entrepreneurship Unit (TIE-U). He provided a comprehensive overview of the three incubation centres, namely TBI, TIDE, and BioNEST, under ASPIRE (Association for Scientific Pursuits for Innovative Research Enterprises), a platform for budding entrepreneurs in the fields of science and technology. He encouraged the participants to explore opportunities available at the incubation centres and take part in the innovation process.
Dr. Nandita Sethi, founder of The Entrepreneur Zone (TEZ), and an alumna of the University of Hyderabad and shared her insights and experiences. She illuminated key essentials for embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, drawing from her own journey and highlighting stories of inspirational founders. Dr. Sethi advocated for broadening the horizons of education to encompass research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, asserting that challenging conventional employment norms is essential. Dr Sethi also highlighted the importance of technology in entrepreneurship today. She highlighted how technology gives one the power to scale up a business.
Ms Mili Kataria the founder of Pandora’s Box, and an expert in startup mentoring, branding, and marketing spoke about ‘Kickstart Your Business’. Her talk provided aspiring entrepreneurs with a roadmap for innovation and meticulous business planning. Ms. Kataria offered a step-by-step guide to navigate the intricacies of the entrepreneurial landscape.
The final talk of the event, titled ‘Fundraising for Start-up Companies’, was delivered by Dr. B.S. Ramakrishna, CEO of Technology Business Incubator (TBI). Dr. Ramakrishna’s talk delved into the funding opportunities individuals and start-ups can acquire in India. He specifically highlighted various funding and grant schemes under the government of India. Dr. Ramakrishna expressed hope that India will soon become the destination for start-ups. He also shared that the government of India’s support for innovation is making the country a great accommodative environment for start-ups.
All the speakers were presented with a memento as a token of appreciation. The participants of the workshop were awarded certificates and the event was concluded with the Vote of thanks by Dr. Sunil Bobba. Dr. Ramprasad Eedara and Dr. Shringika coordinated the planning and organization of the workshop with other members of the DST-UoH- Technology Enabling Centre.