S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Guwahati in collaboration with the BRICS Youth Council, hosted the Entrepreneurship Pre-Consultation Event on 7 February 2025.
The event was conducted under the aegis of aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and the Global Counter-Terrorism Council.
Theme
Themed, “Empowering Northeast India – Youth Innovations for Sustainable Growth and National Connectivity”, the event was attended by over 500 participants and more than 80 startups.
This initiative provided a platform for young entrepreneurs and researchers to showcase their innovative ideas and foster collaboration in the Northeast India, say sources from IIT Guwahati.
Dignitaries
Kausar Jamil Hilaly, Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, will grace the event as the Chief Guest.
Other dignitaries at the event were:
Ø Deba K. Mishra, Deputy Commissioner Kamrup
Ø Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati
Ø Maj Gen (Retd) Rajesh K Jha, AVSM, currently serving as Director (Personnel),
Ø NEEPCO
Ø Rear Admiral Dr. S Kulshrestha, GCTC India
Ø Dr Paromita Dutta, GCTC, India
Ø Mr. Sagar Daryani, CEO & Co-founder Wow! Momo
Chief guest
Kausar Jamil Hilaly, IAS, Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, said the youth of Northeast India are at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
With Assam’s strategic location as a gateway to Southeast Asia, the region has a unique opportunity to become a future entrepreneurial hub, he said.
Unlike previous generations, today’s youth have access to the resources, knowledge and tools needed to turn their entrepreneurial vision into reality, he said.
I encourage the future entrepreneurs to embrace their ideas without the fear of judgment, he said.
The Government of Assam is committed to supporting startups and young business leaders through various initiatives to help them achieve their goals, he said.
Highlight
A key highlight of the event was a mega startup exhibition, curated by IIT Guwahati-BioNest incubator, and inaugurated by chief guest.
This mega exhibition featured over 80 startups from the Northeast region showcasing their innovations and products in domains including deep-tech, healthcare, agritech, and renewable energy, among others, say sources from IIT Guwahati.
Director of IIT Guwahati
Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “India’s youth is full of creativity and the energy to innovate, and entrepreneurship is the key to unlock this potential.
At IIT Guwahati, we are committed to channeling this energy towards nation building, he said.
By fostering skill development and providing a platform for young and aspiring entrepreneurs from the Northeast, we aim to provide them with the required guidance and support, he said.
I encourage all participants to seize this opportunity to collaborate, and lead the region’s entrepreneurial transformation, said IIT Guwahati director.
Youth participation
Rear Admiral Dr. S Kulshrestha, GCTC India, said empowering the youth of Northeast India with right skill sets and motivate them to harness their creativity, is the way forward to ensure a sustainable growth.
Young entrepreneurs have the potential to tackle bold challenges and offer innovative solution, he said.
By unlocking their potential, we can drive regional progress and strengthen the connections that will help in fostering economic integration and social development, he said.
Panel discussion
Additionally, the event also hosted a panel discussion on the topic, “Navigating the Funding Landscape: Strategies for Startup Success & Sustainable Growth”, with experts from industry and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The panelists discussed the rapidly evolving startup landscape in the county, and how different funding strategies can help in sustainable growth of startups.
The event concluded with Idea challenge pitching session in which aspiring entrepreneurs and startups pitched their ideas to potential investors, say sources from IIT Guwahati.
Driving force
As India proceeds towards an innovation and entrepreneurship driven future, this event served as a driving force to empower the aspiring entrepreneurs in Northeast India to play a key role in achieving this goal.
Also Read – Top 20 Pharmacy Colleges in India in 2024: 2024 NIRF