IGNITE at SMIT Campus: AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubator Empowers North East Startups to Spark Innovation and Growth

03/05/2024 – 04/05/2024, Majitar

AIC – SMU Technology Business Incubator (AIC-SMUTBI) hosted a two-day event from 2nd–3rd May, 2024 focused on empowering entrepreneurs through learning, collaboration, and networking. The gathering brought together stakeholders, mentors, industry leaders, academia, and startups, fostering knowledge exchange and connections.

The event was graced by the presence of Mr. Niranjan Demanna, VP, CSR HDFC Bank, Mr. Utkarsh Mishra, Global Innovation, Hero MotoCorp, Mr. Gulshan Purswani, Delivery Head, Bosch Global Software Technologies and the Board of Directors of AIC-SMUTBI. AVM (Dr.) DC Agarwal VSM, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor SMU and Chairman of AIC-SMUTBI, Mrs. Hondala Gyaltsen SCS, Secretary Housing Department, Govt. of Sikkim, Prof (Dr.) K. S. Sherpa, Registrar SMU, Prof (Dr.) Gurdaman Lal Sharma, Director SMIT, and Mr. Ravi Sankar, Senior Finance Officer SMU, were present during the event.
The inaugural session was led by CEO, AIC-SMUTBI, Prof (Dr.) Tej Chingtham, welcoming all participants and highlighting the growth of innovation and entrepreneur ecosystem in North-East India. Insights on corporate social responsibility (CSR), importance of sustainable practises, and tackling regional challenges in India on logistics and external funding, were further discussed by speakers from HDFC Bank and Hero MotoCorp, respectively.

AVM (Dr.) DC Agarwal VSM, the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University and Chairman of AIC-SMUTBI highlighted the support provided to startups by AIC-SMUTBI through the HDFC CSR Parivartan Grant. He encouraged all participants to work on new ideas, fuel creativity, and emphasized the virtues of patience and perseverance.

The announcement of the HDFC CSR Parivartan Grant Winners under AIC-SMUTBI recognizing seven startups for their impactful community include: Crafted Fibers (Sikkim), Green Biotech Ecosolutions Pvt. Ltd. (Manipur), Farmeasy Technologies Pvt. Ltd (Assam), Eco Far (Mizoram), Jome Foods Pvt. Ltd (Nagaland), Sharolyn Ecoempower (Maity Ghar) (Sikkim), and SS Bamboowala Pvt. Ltd. (Tripura), covering six states of the North East. AIC-SMUTBI is the only incubation center in North East India selected for the HDFC CSR Parivartan Grant to support startups from the region.
Concurrently, business, innovation, and technology topics were explored during Bootcamp workshop, attended by 30+ startups across the North East and North Bengal regions. Mr. Gulshan Purswani, from Bosch Global Software Technologies, mentor at AIC-SMUTBI, aimed to refine startup business models and provide essential entrepreneurial skills. Through active group discussions and participation, the workshops emphasized practical skills and strategic insights, encouraging startups to develop measurable supply-side goals alongside building business funnels.

The event concluded with Q&A sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and networking sessions, with the goal of igniting the spark of innovation, collaboration, and growth, AIC-SMUTBI established a strong foundation for a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

ABOUT: AIC-SMUTBIF (AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubation Foundation) was set up as one of the 100 world-class incubators envisioned by the AIM, NITI Aayog, Government of India in September, 2018. Located at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majitar, the incubator nurtures and incubates early stage entrepreneurial ventures based on technology and innovation by providing infrastructure, mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to help budding entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses.