Mangaluru: St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) successfully concluded Impetus 2026, a four-day startup fest aimed at nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship among undergraduate and postgraduate students. Organised in collaboration with the Institution’s Innovation Council under Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), the event revolved around the theme “Igniting Young Minds”.

Held on February 10, 12, 13 and 14, the fest provided a structured platform for students to ideate, refine and pitch their business concepts while interacting with industry leaders, startup mentors and innovation experts.

Pre-workshop sets the tone

The event commenced on February 10 with a pre-workshop titled Pitch Right, led by Dr Shashak Shetty of the AIC NITTE Incubation Centre. The session, meticulously planned by Dr Glenson Toney, Assistant Dean, School of Engineering, focused on introducing participants to design thinking methodologies and the key components of an effective business pitch.

Students were guided through ideation frameworks, problem identification techniques and strategies to communicate value propositions clearly and persuasively. The workshop laid a strong foundation for the competitive pitching rounds that followed.

Grand launch and expert sessions

The formal inauguration took place on February 12. The Chief Guest, Sri P. B. Ahmed Mudassar, President of KCCI Mangaluru, emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation in shaping the future workforce. He encouraged students to embrace risk-taking and cultivate resilience in their entrepreneurial journeys.

The ceremony was presided over by Rev. Dr Melwyn D’Cunha SJ, Pro-Vice Chancellor, who urged students to channel creativity towards solving emerging societal challenges.

The technical sessions featured accomplished industry professionals:

  • Dr Royal Praveen D’Souza, Director of Siona Solutions and Assistant Dean, School of Information Science and Technology, delivered an engaging talk titled “Igniting Young Minds”, sharing practical insights on transforming ideas into viable and sustainable ventures.
  • Mr Prashun Shetty, Founder and CEO of TagSkills EdTech Pvt Ltd, narrated his entrepreneurial journey, illustrating how a conceptual idea evolved into a scalable enterprise.
  • Mr Ashish Rai, Director of Pentagram Systems, conducted a hands-on design thinking workshop centred on human-centric problem-solving and building resilient business models.

These sessions offered students exposure to real-world entrepreneurial challenges and solution-oriented thinking.

Competitive pitching rounds

On February 13, registered teams participated in preliminary pitching rounds. Students presented their startup ideas before a panel of faculty judges, who evaluated the proposals based on innovation, feasibility, scalability and social impact.

Constructive feedback was provided to help participants refine their concepts and strengthen their business strategies. The competitive environment fostered confidence, clarity and critical thinking among aspiring entrepreneurs.

Startup expo and valedictory ceremony

The grand finale on February 14 transformed the campus into a vibrant Startup Expo. The top 10 shortlisted student-led startups showcased their ideas before an expert panellist, Dr Manesh Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the Manipal-GoK Bioincubator, who also graced the valedictory ceremony as Chief Guest.

A symbolic candlelight pledge ceremony, led by Registrar Dr Ronald Nazareth, added a reflective dimension to the event. Participating students were handed candles and collectively took an entrepreneurial pledge, reaffirming their commitment to innovation, ethical practices and sustainable impact.

The university assured seed funding support for the winning teams, reinforcing its commitment to building a robust startup ecosystem on campus. Awards were presented under various categories including Best Pitch, Best Presentation, Best Sustainable Pitch and Best Emerging Tech Award.

Strengthening innovation culture

The successful execution of Impetus 2026 was spearheaded by Chief Coordinator Ms Savin Premi Lobo, Faculty Convenors Ms Delma Lora D’Cunha and Ms Apeksha Kottari, and Student Coordinator Ms Amulya W. K., with the support of the management, advisors, organising team, staff and students.

Impetus 2026 not only celebrated student creativity but also strengthened the university’s vision of cultivating entrepreneurial competence, responsible leadership and industry-ready innovation among young minds.