– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Mangaluru: The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT), Mangalore, successfully hosted a two-day workshop on “The Indian Start-up and MSME Ecosystem in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” on Wednesday and Thursday. The event, aimed at equipping participants with knowledge about the evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem and the transformative role of artificial intelligence, was attended by around 150 students. Faculty and Research Scholars from other institutes also participated in the event.
In his inaugural talk, Dr. Vasantha Kumar, Organising Chair and Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering, emphasised the importance of startups and MSMEs in India’s economy and the potential of AI in fostering innovation and sustainability. Dr. SI Manjur Basha, Patron of the event and Principal of BIT, spoke about the institution’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry through such initiatives.
Prof. Gokuldas M, Assistant Professor and one of the Event Coordinators, introduced the Chief Guest, Mr. Chetan Kumar GS, Founder and CEO of Initium Incubation and Mentoring Consultancy and Mr. Santhosh V., Project Director at Skill & MSME, Initium Incubation and Mentoring Consultancy Bengaluru.
In his keynote address, Mr. Chetan Kumar shared his experiences as a national startup mentor and provided deep insights into navigating the challenges of the startup ecosystem in the AI age.
The workshop featured technical sessions by the speakers. Their presentations covered government support schemes, funding opportunities, and AI-driven business models, offering actionable insights for budding entrepreneurs.
A key highlight of the event was the Student Activity Session, where participants pitched innovative ideas with the potential to become startups. This session provided a platform for students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills while receiving constructive feedback from the Chief Guest and Resource Person.
The event concluded with a Valedictory Note and Vote of Thanks by Dr. Sandeep Nambiar, Assistant Professor and Event Coordinator.
During the Validity Ceremony, the Chief Guest, Resource Person, were honoured for their invaluable contributions. Certificates of participation were distributed to all participants.
