The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Srinivas Institute of Technology, Valachil, Mangaluru, in association with AMARA (Association of Automobile and Aeronautical Engineering), organized a session titled “From Prototype to Market: Business Strategy for Startups” on 26 February 2026 at 1:00 PM in the Department Seminar Hall (M503).

The resource person, Prof. Sathya Prakash Anekallu, Founder of SIYO.in and Co-Founder of SIYO Liquid Detergent (Slide), and Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SIT, Mangaluru, delivered an insightful session on startup market strategies. Drawing from his entrepreneurial experience, he explained how identifying market needs, understanding customer segments, and developing sustainable revenue models are essential, emphasizing that innovation alone is not sufficient without proper market validation and strategic planning.

During the session, he explained the Business Model Canvas (BMC) and its nine building blocks, including customer segments, value proposition, channels, revenue streams, key resources, and cost structure. Using examples from his startup journey, he demonstrated how systematic market analysis and strategic planning support product positioning and business growth while aligning technical innovation with market demand.

In the second session, students were divided into groups of three to identify real-world problems and develop innovative ideas. Each group defined their problem statement, identified target users, and prepared a basic business model using the BMC framework, encouraging collaborative thinking and startup-oriented planning.

The session began with an introduction of the resource person by Ashwin, 4th Semester Automobile Engineering student, and the program was smoothly conducted by Naksh Shetty, 4th Semester Automobile Engineering student, who served as the Master of Ceremony. The program was coordinated by Prof. Prakash T and Dr. Niranjan Prabhu, Dept. IIC Coordinators. The event was successfully conducted with the guidance of Dr. Sandesh Kumar Rai (HOD – AU), Dr. Praveen Shenoy (HOD – AE), and under the leadership of Dr. Shrinivasa Mayya D, Principal, SIT.