Five Startup Entrepreneurs secured 23 Lakh Funding during SPRINT Programme held at Central University of Punjab
· Central University of Punjab hosted SPRIT Programme to provide funding to innovative start-up ideas
· Five innovative startups entrepreneurs secured a total funding of Rs 23 Lakh in this programme
Bathinda: In its endeavour to foster innovation and support research-driven startups, the Central University of Punjab Research & Development Foundation (CUPRDF) at CU Punjab, a DST NIDHI iTBI; in collaboration with iHUB AWaDH, IIT Ropar organized a startup event SPRINT (Strategic Programme for Research Innovation and Next-gen Tech commercialization) North Edition start-up event. A total of INR 35 Lakh was at stake to be invested in the potential startups during this event. The call for the event opened on Feb 06 and closed on Feb 22, resulting in 91 applications. After two rounds of shortlisting, 22 startups across the India were selected for the demo day to present their pitch in the final selection round of getting funding.
The event was conducted under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghvendra Tiwari, with Chief Guest Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, participating online to encourage the participants. Dr. Kawaljit Singh Kaura, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Urology, AIIMS Bathinda, served as the panel expert, while Mr. Atif Jamal – Senior Manager and Mr. Vardhaman Jain – Associate Manager represented iHUB AWaDH, IIT Ropar as distinguished guests and experts.
During his inaugural address, Chief Guest Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari commended the efforts of CUPRDF and expressed optimism that initiatives like SPRINT would fortify our startup ecosystem, aligning with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He underscored the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship’s endeavors in enhancing the skill sets and entrepreneurial capacities of young individuals. He emphasized the imperative for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to play a proactive role in cultivating entrepreneurial skills among students and fostering a culture conducive to research-based startups, thereby invigorating our startup economy.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari conveyed his gratitude to the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Skill Development and the Ministry of Education for their efforts in fostering a startup ecosystem nationwide. He acknowledged their role in providing opportunities to Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to cultivate innovative ideas into startups and support them in their journey towards achieving unicorn status, facilitated by the establishment of startup incubators and accelerators. Prof. Tiwari stressed the significance of a robust startup ecosystem in developing the service sector, a cornerstone of any developed nation, and highlighted India’s potential to reach its 5 trillion economy target through the creation of successful startups. He emphasized that the SPRINT Programme presents a valuable opportunity for young individuals to innovate and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, fostering self-reliance (AtmaNirbhar Bharat) and positioning India as a global power.
In this programme a total of 20 startups delivered their pitch deck to raise funds for their respective startup. After careful consideration and deliberation, 5 startups secured a total funding of Rs 23 L granted as a combination of grant & loan.
· Mrigarka Saha from Suspack Technologies secured funding of 7 lakh.
· Lovpreet Singh from AMT secured funding of 4 lakh.
· Shivam Tripathi from Airober secured funding of 4 lakh.
· Ajit Kanan from Sandbird secured funding of Rs 4 Lakh
· Susheel from Roots secured funding of Rs 4 Lakh
The event commenced with introductory remarks from Prof. Anjana Munshi, Director of the R&D Cell, HoD of the Department of Human Genetics and Applied Health, and Project Director of CUPRDF, followed by an introductory note by Dr. Akshay Nag, Chief Executive Officer of CUPRDF. Mr. Atif Jamal, Senior Manager iHUB AWaDH, introduced the SPRINT initiative and the process to evaluate potential startups. The organizers concluded the event by expressing gratitude to all participants for making the program a success. Students, research scholars, and faculty from various institutions in the Malwa region attended the event.