Celebrating start-ups

Inclusivity was the word at the fifth edition of the NES Start-up Fest, organised by the E-Cell of NES Ratnam College on February 8 at the NES International School campus. The event saw nearly 2000 students in attendance, with 60 student start-up ideas as well as 15 startup ideas by budding entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, differently-abled entrepreneurs and more on display.

From these, the seven start-ups shortlisted for incubation are Pi Code Club for their block coding STEM for kids, Intelligent Safety Project Transportation by Veer Bavashi, Complete Solar by Future Residential Complex, Mural Painting by Yogesh Arts, 100% biodegradable sanitary napkins by Wanna Feel Refreshed, Smart Bikes by Auto Tech, and cost reduction robotics by Smart Systems. These seven shortlisted start-ups will be guided and mentored by industry experts.

Speaking about the student festival, Dr R Varadarajan, Founder President NES SVB Group says, “India will soon be a vibrant nation in the world, with 64 percent of its population in the working-age group by 2020. All that we need is to guide the start-ups to scale up, inspire more students to aspire, and become job creators instead of job-seekers. NES SVB Group and NES Ratnam College have been diligently working towards creating young entrepreneurs. This year we have selected seven start-ups which will undergo a proper budgeting and feasibility study and based on the findings the start-ups will be incubated and mentored.”

Bomi Gandhi, Associate VP, Godrej & Boyce (Interio Division) adds, “There is nothing more exhilarating than working for yourself. Tatas, Godrej and Birlas were start-ups many years back, now you, the students, are being given immense opportunity to turn your business thought into reality and it’s up to you to make the best out of it.”

Students came up with innovative ideas and projects that drew appreciation and attention. Highlights included a BMX cycle mounted with 100cc engine, mini electric go-cart (mini e-car), hand-made customised jewellery, biodegradable sanitary napkins, a thermal electric pain reliever, and more. “It was a pleasure to be part of the Start-up Fest,” says Aneesh Karma, a differently-abled innovator. “This is a perfect platform for all budding entrepreneurs — be it students, differently-abled people or women — to showcase their ideas and concepts.”

NES Start-up Fest also conducted interesting sessions such as The Startup Expo, E-Workshop, Idea Lab, Enablement Space, patenting, Start-up Quest, and Success Stories. One could also fine workshops covering a wide spectrum of themes, like promoting zero waste campaign by social entrepreneur Mehndi Shidasani, artefacts using wires by Grey entrepreneur Jamaal Shaikh, Low-Cost Foot Orthosis by Aneesh Karma, and innovative use of jute clothesline by an NGO of women entrepreneurs.

Students had put up 70 stalls, which included 50 Start-up Expo stalls, 10 food stalls, eight non-food stalls, and two stalls were for an NGO to display their products in the fest.