The St Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology, Pala, played host to the Startup India Yatra 2018, which saw a large gathering of budding innovators and entrepreneurs from around the state. A flagship scheme, which is organised under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India, aims to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-roots level.
Jees Karayil, co-founder and director of the Joboy App, gave a rousing speech while speaking about his tenures at various organisations, before finally heading a quickly emerging startup that, he claimed, seeks to ‘uncomplicate life.’
Manju Sara Rajan, journalist and former CEO of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale foundation, spoke about her experiences in the field, giving insights into pivotal decisions that helped her succeed.
The Startup India Yatra is one among the largest initiatives taken by the Government of India, with a special emphasis on innovative startups from small towns and cities in the country. The Kerala leg of the drive was flagged of by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Thiruvananthapuram on November 1. It would cruise through 14 districts across the state, with 14 van stops, and 8 different bootcamps before eventually returning to the state capital for the grand finale to be held at the Technopark grounds.
The bootcamps would consist of ideation workshops and idea-pitching sessions. The people behind the best ideas shortlisted from the drive would then receive rigorous training and mentorship from the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and the Startup India initiative.
Kerala Startup Mission is responsible for the promotion of such initiatives and has about 214 Innovations and Entrepreneurship Development Centres (IEDCs) across the state, which provide opportunities for students to transform their innovative ideas into viable products and services.
"The Startup Yatra is a brilliant step towards empowering creative minds, while providing a huge platform in accelerating an entrepreneurial culture," said Sarju S, the nodal officer of the SJCET Startup Bootcamp which was recently felicitated as the top Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Kerala by the KSUM.