Mangaluru: St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) successfully organised the curtain raiser of the “Enabling Entrepreneurship” programme on March 23, 2026, at Spoorthi Hall. The event was conducted by the SJEC AICTE IDEA Lab, Industry and Innovation Group, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with the SI-8 Foundation.
The programme commenced at 10:30 am with an invocation, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and a formal welcome address, setting the tone for an initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
Dignitaries emphasise innovation and start-up culture
The event was graced by Dr. I. N. V. Shivakiran S Makam, Convenor of Mission UTTHAAN and Director of Strategy and Planning at SI-8 Foundation, as the Chief Guest. Mr. Aravind C Kumar, CEO of SI-8 Foundation, along with the Principal and Assistant Director of SJEC, attended as Guests of Honour, while the Director of SJEC presided over the function.
Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries highlighted the growing importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in today’s dynamic economic landscape. They stressed the need for institutional support systems to nurture student-led start-ups and encouraged students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities.
The formal session concluded with the felicitation of guests and a vote of thanks.
Active participation from students
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 120 students, including second- and third-year undergraduate engineering students and first-year postgraduate students.
The event provided a platform for students to engage with industry experts and gain exposure to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Technical session on start-up ecosystem
Following the inaugural ceremony, a technical session on the start-up ecosystem was conducted from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The session offered valuable insights into the key components of a start-up ecosystem, the challenges faced by emerging ventures, and the role of innovation hubs such as IDEA Labs in supporting entrepreneurial growth.
Students were introduced to practical aspects of building start-ups, including ideation, resource management, and overcoming operational challenges.
Focus on sustainable development in start-ups
In the afternoon, a session on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to start-ups was held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The session emphasised how start-ups can align with global sustainability goals and develop socially impactful and environmentally responsible business models. Students were encouraged to create innovative solutions to real-world problems while contributing to sustainable development.
Semester-long mentorship programme
The “Enabling Entrepreneurship” initiative is designed as a semester-long programme that will be conducted in a hybrid mode, combining both offline and online learning experiences.
Under this programme, student teams will receive systematic training and mentorship to transform their ideas into viable start-ups. The initiative includes structured sessions, hands-on activities, and continuous guidance from experts to support students throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
Conclusion
The curtain raiser of the Enabling Entrepreneurship programme at SJEC marked the beginning of a comprehensive initiative aimed at nurturing innovation and start-up culture among students. By providing mentorship, resources, and exposure, the programme is expected to empower students to develop impactful and sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.
