Assam Skill University (ASU), in partnership with Assam Start-up, organised a collaborative event titled “ASU Start-up Connect” on Friday at The Nest in Ambari. The programme brought together educational institutions and start-up stakeholders in an effort to integrate entrepreneurship and skill-based learning in Assam’s growing innovation landscape.
The event aimed to deepen the link between academic training and practical industry experience, with an emphasis on fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the higher education space. The initiative also sought to provide a platform for students, educators, and industry leaders to engage in dialogue and explore new avenues of collaboration.
Opening the event, ASU Assistant Professor Shapna Medhi welcomed the attendees, including senior university officials, industry figures, and founders from across the state’s start-up ecosystem. Among those present were Vice Chancellor of ASU Subhash Chandra Das, Registrar Hanif Noorani, Assam Start-up’s Chief Operating Officer Omkarnath S Rath, Bhogali Jalpan founder Ajit Kumar Sarma Baruah, NECTAR Director General Arun Kumar Sarma, and ASU’s Academic Head Manoj Kumar Deka.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor said the initiative was a timely effort to align academic learning with the needs of the job market. He underlined the university’s intention to ensure students gain real-world experience alongside their studies and said closer links with industry would strengthen Assam’s employment and innovation potential.
Registrar Hanif Noorani pointed out that nearly three-quarters of ASU’s academic programme was geared toward applied learning, with a strong focus on practical skills. He said the university aimed to nurture independent thinking and entrepreneurial confidence among students from early on in their education.
Omkarnath S Rath of Assam Start-up spoke about the state’s potential to build a network of job creators, noting that start-ups could thrive with the right institutional support. He said Assam Start-up was open to supporting the establishment of incubation facilities within the university, describing such a move as key to building a long-term innovation ecosystem.
The event also included a special recognition of Ajit Kumar Sarma Baruah, who shared insights into the development of his brand Bhogali Jalpan. He reflected on the long-term dedication required to grow a business and encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to stay grounded and patient in their journey.
ASU’s Academic Head, Manoj Kumar Deka, later delivered a presentation outlining the university’s current research programmes, its focus areas for innovation, and the future direction of its academic initiatives.
More than 20 start-ups were introduced and acknowledged during the programme. These included ventures across diverse sectors such as technology, tourism, events, agriculture, and design. Some of the start-ups featured were Khetiox, AppOpen, Ujudebug, StemCorp, Qoptars, Aicheng Innovation, Tholua Pratisthan, NE Crafters, Manxo, Finderbridge, Encamp Adventures, Travysys, Kareng Technologies, NJD Technologies, Chayi Trails, Avkotransiro Tech, Drones Tech Lab, The Design Room, 3PALZ Smart Technologies, Olatus System, and Jasmine Events and Entertainment.
The event concluded with a roundtable exchange involving start-up founders and academic representatives, followed by a networking lunch aimed at building sustained engagement beyond the day’s discussions.
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