Start-up competition at AMU
Aligarh : Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students Saurav Saraswat and Divyank Shandilya prepared their best pitch deck, supplemented text with creative visuals and used simple but captivating language to explain their start-up idea that won them the first prize in the ‘Step Ahead’- Start-up competition of the Innovation Council and University Incubation Centre (IC&UIC) held at University Polytechnic on December 15, Thursday.
They received the prize from the Chief Guest, AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor and the Guests-of Honour, Prof Mohd Mohsin Khan (Finance Officer) and Prof Mohammad Altamash Siddiqui (Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology).
Mirza Ali Beg won the second prize with Juhi Faridi, Yusra Meraj and Atifa Aqeel finishing at the third place. Areeba Khan and her team and Mahima Singh were given the consolation prize.
Presiding over the valedictory session, Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor said: “Since we are in the age of venture capital with many investors winning significant payouts from investing in inspired startups looking to change the world, it is necessary that the students learn how to pitch big ideas to thousands of attendees and connect with the people who can take them to the next level”.
In the welcome address, Prof Imtiaz Hasnain (Chairman, IC&UIC) called the students to come up with big ideas that can gain traction and to reach out to investors to support their startup’s expansion.
He also spoke on the achievements of IC&UIC.
Prof Mohammad Altamsh Siddiqui stressed: “Start-up contests are the perfect platforms for budding entrepreneurial talents to get trained for connecting with the resources and organizations they need to launch and accelerate their ideas”.
“Investors across the globe are committed to accelerate transformative technologies in tech, business, and science”, pressed Prof Mohd Mohsin Khan (Finance Officer).
The special guests Mohammad Hamza (Founder and Managing Director, Engineering and Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd) and Anil Kumar Singh (Lead District Manager, Canara Bank) shared valuable insights and informed the student participants about various government schemes that provide collateral-free loans to startups.
Prof Asiya Chaudhary extended the vote of thanks and Dr Ambreen Saleem conducted the programme.
Sarthak Saxena (Director, Deep Expo Equipment Pvt. Ltd), Ankit Agarwal (Director, Swadeshi Khadi Traders Pvt Ltd), Anil Kumar Singh (Lead District Manager, Canara Bank), and Dr Ayesha Farooq (Professor, Department of Business Administration) judged the competition.