MIET & FICCI FLO JK&L organize Startup Event SEED Season 1
Jammu: Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET), Jammu, in collaboration with FICCI FLO JK&L and supported by Maharaja Hari Singh Foundation, successfully organized SEED (Start-up Event for Entrepreneurship Development), Season 1 on 17th March at its KotBhalwaal campus, Jammu. Day 2 of the event shall be organized at Hari Niwas Palace hotel, comprising plenary talks and celebrating local entrepreneurs.
The event was graced by Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director, JKEDI, J&K, as the Chief Guest and Dr. KuwraniRitu Singh, Founding Chairperson, FICCI Flo JK&L as the Guest of Honor. Other dignitaries who were present on the occasion included Ms. Ruchika Gupta, Joint Director, MIER, Prof. Rakesh Singhai, IIT Jammu and Dr. Saurabh Saran, Senior Scientist, CSIR-IIIM Jammu. Prof. Ankur Gupta, Director MIET presented the welcome address and outlined the importance of celebrating entrepreneurship in J&K.
The highlight of the event was the Start-up Awards, where six entrepreneurs from the region were awarded for their exceptional performance in their respective fields. The winners included Mr. Ankush Sabarwal, Founder, CoRover.ai, Mr. Rohil Bhatia, Founder, Intellivate Technologies, Mr. ManikSoodan, Founder, Campus Duniya, Mr. Goumtesh Singh, Co-partner, Raasta&Yeti, and Ms. Adishree Singh, Co-founder, Reformary. A special encouragement award was presented to Mr. Atul Banotra, Director, Rach Smart Solutions Ltd in the young entrepreneur category.
In addition, J&K start-up enabler awards were presented to the Technology Business Incubators from CSIR-IIIM IIT Jammu for their role in nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in J&K. Dr. Saurabh Saran, Senior Scientist, CSIR-IIIM Incubator and Prof. Rakesh Singhai, Sr. Professor, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Jammu received the award on the behalf of their incubators. Awards of Appreciation were also presented to Dr. Vivek Sharma, CIO, IIM Jammu, Dr. Supran Kumar Sharma, Dean Faculty of Management &Incharge TBI SMVDU and Dr. Jyoti Kachroo, Director Planning and Monitoring, SKUAST for their contributions.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director JKEDI stressed on the importance of entrepreneurship in the growth of the J&K region and how initiatives like SEED can help create a positive impact. Dr. Kr. Ritu Singh, Founding Chairperson FICCI FLO JK&L shared her thoughts on the potential of women entrepreneurs in J&K and encouraged more women to take up entrepreneurship as a career option. She outlined her vision of creating 50 unicorns from J&K in the next 10 years.
The pitching competition marked the beginning of the afternoon session, where participants from various prominent T-schools and B-schools throughout J&K presented their innovative ideas to the esteemed jury members. The event received a total of fifty registrations, out of which ten teams from University of Jammu, SMVDU, SKUAST, UIT Kathua, IIT Jammu, BGBSU and MIET were shortlisted to compete.
The first prize of Rs. 25,000 was bagged by Dhvani Gupta from MIET for her idea People.ai, the second prize of Rs. 15,000 was awarded toDakshi Goel and Devin (team EcoSoul)from IIT-Jammu and the third prize of Rs. 10,000 was bagged byJhanvi from MIET for her idea Petzo. The evening concluded with a Sufi Night at Hari Niwas by renowned artist and sufi Singer Zila Khan.