The Indian Institute of Management Kashipur is gearing up to host the 7th edition of Uttishtha 2024, scheduled to take place from January 27 to 28. This edition of the ‘Agri Mela’ Startup Expo aims to bring together agri startups, industry stakeholders, and investors for the exchange of valuable insights on entrepreneurship. Organised by the Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (FIED) and E-Cell IIM Kashipur, with support from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the two-day event is hailed as the “Mahakumbh of Agriculture Startups” and is designed to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship while fostering innovation and collaboration.
With an expected participation of over 2000 B-School students, 20+ VC and entrepreneur talks, 10,000+ visitors, and 100+ startups, and host the top 10 startups engaging in live pitching under the banner of ‘Ran Bhoomi’, the summit is poised to be a significant platform for the agricultural startup ecosystem.
The agenda for the Annual Entrepreneurship Summit includes various enlightening events such as Udaan 7.0 (Pitching Competition), HULT Prize, Live Startup Pitching Competition, and Leaders Mantra. The second day, labelled Expo Day or Kashipur Mela, will focus on career counselling sessions, cultural showcasing, science fairs, and a celebrity night. The summit aims to identify potential ideas and provide startups with an opportunity to pitch in front of a panel of prestigious VCs, entrepreneurs, academicians, and angel investors.
Ram Kumar, CEO of IIM Kashipur FIED, expressed the significant impact of the event over the years. He highlighted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has supported over 140 startups with funding totalling INR 320 crore, thanks to the Uttishtha-‘Agri Mela’ Startup Expo.
“The initiative not only encourages creativity but also has a significant positive socioeconomic impact, raising 500,000 farmers’ standards of living and generating employment,” Kumar emphasised
In addition to the expo, IIM Kashipur’s FIED, an incubation centre, has been actively supporting startups. In 2022-23, it organised 18 start-up boot camps in 13 districts of Uttarakhand, reaching 2500 college students and micro-entrepreneurs. The centre has achieved several milestones, including 158+ startups, 2000+ direct employment, ₹340Cr+ funding raised, 75+ startups funded, aiding 30 female entrepreneurs, and benefiting over 5 lakh farmers.
Highlighting the success stories of startups under FIED, such as BIJAK [$34.1 million], LOOPWORM [$3.4 million], and INFYU LABS [$0.24 million], the impact of the initiative is evident in the substantial funds raised by these ventures.
As part of its ongoing initiatives, IIM Kashipur has also announced a five-day Open Management Development Programme (MDP) titled ‘Soft Skills for the Workplace of Tomorrow,’ scheduled from February 5th to 9th, 2024.
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