Guwahati: Two Assam start-ups are working on developing a machine to make pithas on a large scale, with an aim to increase popularity of the traditional Assamese delicacy, both nationally and globally.
Referring to the novel attempt at a startup skilling programme here on Friday, entrepreneurial consultant Satyen Madhav Mahanta expressed optimism that the traditional food industry has the potential to throw up immense opportunities for startups.
“Two other possibilities in line with the pitha-manufacturing machine could be its packaging and an SOP on the ingredients,” Mahanta said during a panel discussion at the two-day skilling programme of National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) organised for startups under North-East Capacity Building 2.0 (NECB 2.0) project.
Addressing the programme, Dr Y Jayanta Singh, executive director of NIELIT, emphasised the growing significance of artificial intelligence and highlighted the futuristic potential of the new electronic semiconductor plant being established in the region.
Singh noted that these developments could revolutionise the local economy and create numerous opportunities for startups.
The Northeast Startup Catalyst Program at the Assam Startup on the Nest premises, which aimed to bolster the startup ecosystem in Northeast India, brought together prominent industry experts and government officials to discuss the future of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Anubhav Tiwari, chief innovation officer of NIELIT, provided an insightful overview of the potential prospects for startups in Northeast India, underscoring the region’s untapped potential and the importance of fostering a supportive environment for new ventures.
Satyanarayana Reddy M, lead of the innovation and business department at Keystone Centre for Innovation and Teacher Education (KCITE), led a technical session focusing on the potential effectiveness of prompt engineering in startup innovations.
Ankur Mehta, associate director at Plaksha University, gave a presentation on the intricacies of pitching a business and other technical elements crucial for startup success.
Addressing the gathering, Naveen K.L, founder of Trice Systems Private Limited, shared an in-depth account of his entrepreneurial journey and offered valuable advice for startups, while highlighting key points that could significantly contribute to their success.
Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (AIIDC) managing director Chinmoy Prakash Phookan elaborated on the initiatives undertaken by the corporation to popularise the startup culture among the local populace and highlighted various performance metrics and successful projects, demonstrating the positive impact of the efforts in nurturing a vibrant startup community.
Nandita Dutta, secretary of the information technology department, Government of Assam, praised the Startup Catalyst Program for its visionary approach and encouraged further evolution of such efforts.
“With the collaborative efforts of NIELIT, Assam Startup and the Government of Assam, the future looks promising for aspiring entrepreneurs in Northeast India,” she said.
On the other hand, Dr. Hirak Ranjan Das, innovation manager at the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell rued that startup creation and awareness in the Northeast was low compared to the rest of India.
“For instance, at an awareness programme organised in Guwahati recently, only nine startups turned up, while a similar programme in Maharashtra attracted some 1800 startups,” Dr Das said.
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