The event witnessed the participation of over 250 students, startups, and budding entrepreneurs. Around 25 participants pitched their business ideas to the investor panel.
Ahmedabad, January 16, 2024: The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) organised an elaborate event to commemorate National Startup Day on Tuesday. The event was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Guest Shri P. B. Pandya, IAS, Director, Commissionerate of Higher Education, Government of Gujarat; Guest of Honour, Shri Jimish Kapadia, Founder-Growth 91; Special Guest Shri Nilesh Patel, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Lymphon Biologics; and Dr. Satya Ranjan Acharya, Director, Department of Education, EDII. The event was also a curtain-raiser for EDII’s annual entrepreneurship festival, Empresario. The theme for 2024 is Tech Innovation for a Sustainable Future.
Dr. Sunil Shukla, in his opening remarks, said, “Gujarat is acclaimed for its conducive startup ecosystem. The state has seen a sharp rise in the number of registered startups. For the last three years, Gujarat has continued to score in the Numero Uno position in the Startup India Ecosystem Ranking. I urge the youths to come up with their innovative ideas and execute them amidst amiable policies, schemes, and multiple funding options that the state has created.”
In his inaugural address, Shri P. B. Pandya said, “Today is the time of innovators and innovations. The youths must step forward and tap into the opportunities that lie before them. They just have to ideate, and the rest will automatically fall into place in the strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that the state has erected. There is no dearth of support today, be it mentorship, incubation, funding, or any other support; it is all very easy to manage in today’s friendly times and age.”
Shri Jimish Kapadia, encouraging the audience, said, “India has the finest amalgamation of institutions, policies, incubation, and accelerators. The present time is the most beneficial for prospective startups. I believe budding entrepreneurs need to build confidence in themselves and push their ideas with self-assurance. It is important that they rise above the fear of failure because success rests there.”
Motivating the budding entrepreneurs, Shri Nilesh Patel said, “The entrepreneurial journey is never smooth; it is a roller coaster ride, but that is what makes it so worthwhile. The end result is deeply satisfying and rewarding. There is power in failure, and I urge the youths to embrace that and move ahead with big dreams, wisdom, agility, and passion.”
The inaugural event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Satya Ranjan Acharya. Dr. Acharya shed light on the rising number of startups in India and in Gujarat. He enumerated the ease of funding options and regulations that support youth and provide them with a powerful platform to experiment with their ideas. Dr. Satya also talked about the Technology Business Incubators at EDII and its services in networking, technology, marketing, and funding for startups.
The day-long event involved intra-college events like speaker sessions to guide budding entrepreneurs in their entrepreneurial journey, competitions like Pitch Deck, Demo Day, and alumni interaction over activities like stress interviews, an ad-mad show, and a treasure hunt, followed by a musical evening.
The event witnessed the participation of over 250 students, startups, and budding entrepreneurs. Around 25 participants pitched their business ideas to the investor panel.
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