The SIT IIC in association with the EDP Cell, Startup Cell, and IIIC, along with AIC Nitte Incubation Centre and K-Tech, organized a session titled “Startup Spark” on 17-02-2026. The resource persons for the session were Dr. A.P. Achar, CEO of AIC Nitte Incubation Centre; Vaishal Pai K, Cluster Head, Mangalore, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM); and Ashish Rai, Entrepreneur and Senior Director at Pentagram System.

The objective of the program was to create awareness among students about entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem, to provide insights into incubation support, funding opportunities, and government initiatives, and to motivate young innovators to transform their ideas into sustainable business ventures. The session also aimed to strengthen industry–academia collaboration and encourage students to actively engage in innovation and startup activities.

During the session, Dr. A.P. Achar emphasized the importance of incubation support, structured mentoring, and access to funding in guiding early-stage startups toward success. He highlighted how academic institutions can play a vital role in nurturing innovative ideas through systematic incubation programs. Mr. Vaishal Pai K discussed the growing digital ecosystem in Karnataka, various government initiatives supporting startups, and the opportunities available for aspiring entrepreneurs through KDEM and related platforms. Mr. Ashish Rai shared his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges faced in building and scaling a business, leadership insights, and practical strategies for sustaining long-term growth in a competitive market.

The program was organized by Mr. Shailesh Shetty S and Dr. Soorya Krishna K. The EDP coordinators of various departments nominated and sent students who were interested in entrepreneurship to participate in the session. Interested students from all departments attended the program, with around 250 students actively participating. The program significantly enhanced students’ understanding of the startup ecosystem, incubation processes, funding avenues, and available institutional support mechanisms. The session inspired many participants to consider entrepreneurship as a promising career path and motivated them to develop innovative ideas with the support of incubation centers and institutional guidance.