Guwahati: The AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubator (AIC-SMUTBI) hosted IGNITE, an event dedicated to fostering innovation and growth among startups in the North East region.
This initiative brought together stakeholders, including mentors, industry luminaries, academia, and emerging startups, under one roof at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) campus in Majitar.
Distinguished guests graced the occasion, including Niranjan Demanna, VP of CSR at HDFC Bank, Utkarsh Mishra from Hero MotoCorp’s Global Innovation division, and Gulshan Purswani, Delivery Head at Bosch Global Software Technologies. Also in attendance were key figures from AIC-SMUTBI’s Board of Directors, along with esteemed personalities such as AVM (Dr.) DC Agarwal VSM, Vice-Chancellor of SMU and Chairman of AIC-SMUTBI, and Hondala Gyaltsen SCS, Secretary of the Housing Department, Government of Sikkim, among others.
The event commenced with an inaugural session led by CEO of AIC-SMUTBI, Prof (Dr.) Tej Chingtham, who highlighted the burgeoning innovation landscape in North-East India. Insights on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable practices were shared by representatives from HDFC Bank and Hero MotoCorp, respectively.
AVM (Dr.) DC Agarwal VSM, in his address, emphasised the support extended to startups by AIC-SMUTBI through initiatives like the HDFC CSR Parivartan Grant. He urged participants to nurture new ideas, foster creativity, and persevere in their entrepreneurial journey.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of the HDFC CSR Parivartan Grant Winners, which recognised seven startups for their impactful community initiatives. These startups, hailing from six states across the North East, 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). AIC-SMUTBI’s selection as the sole incubation center in North East India for the HDFC CSR Parivartan Grant underscores its pivotal role in supporting regional startups.
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Concurrently, a Bootcamp workshop delved into business, innovation, and technology topics, drawing participation from over 30 startups across the North East and North Bengal regions. Led by Gulshan Purswani from Bosch Global Software Technologies, who also serves as a mentor at AIC-SMUTBI, the workshop aimed to refine startup business models and equip entrepreneurs with essential skills. Through interactive sessions and group discussions, startups were encouraged to set measurable goals and fine-tune their business strategies.
The event concluded with engaging Q&A sessions, personalised mentorship opportunities, and networking sessions, laying a robust foundation for collaboration and growth within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. By igniting the spark of innovation and fostering meaningful connections, AIC-SMUTBI has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of trailblasing startups in the North East.
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