Aiming to impact 5000+ entrepreneurs through 19 Van Stops & 8 Boot Camps, ‘Startup Yatra’ reached Lovely Professional University (LPU) Campus today. LPU proved itself as the vast ‘Boot Camp’ among all other, with students attending it not only from all states of India but other countries also. ‘Yatra’ nurtured entrepreneurship and innovation zeal among students of LPU and other participating institutions of the area. Day long boot camp made presentations on Startup India and Government policies, followed by extensive ideation workshop for pitching ideas. LPU students’ foremost ideas and Start-ups have also been selected for the ‘Grand Finale’ to be held on 6th February in Chandigarh, for further training, funding & incubation.Principal Director at Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship (RCED) Paramjit Singh; Government of India representative Amit Sharma; Punjab Government representatives Ashish Puri & Salil; Local Entrepreneurs aiming to excel Chinese in exports Prashant Uppal (Diesel Engines & Batteries supplier to many countries), Alok Sethi ( Supplier of Fine Electrical Accessories) and more promoted and developed entrepreneurship amongst both trainers and students to the core. In order to make the Start-up Yatra fruitful, Paramjit Singh invoked all teachers to pass on important information about start-ups to their respective students. Similarly, students were inspired by industry people to think out of the box and learn to sell their ideas in forms, which may further provide works to others as well.
LPU Start-up School’s Assistant Director Manish Saini informed that there was a great enthusiasm among students about this ‘Yatra’.The structure of Boot-camp sessions was based on registrations of students; train the trainer workshop (for faculty members); motivational talk by successful entrepreneur; mentor speech: Dos & Don’ts for a Start-up; ideation workshop; idea pitching sessions; and, shortlisting of grand finalists. Around 250 LPU students participated in the idea pitching sessions where 75 innovative ideas on projects in relation to water, earth, sky and space were presented by them, and maximum of these are appreciated for selection.Flagged off by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on 16th January 2019, the 15-day ‘Yatra’ is to scout aspiring & grass root entrepreneurs, especially in Tier II/III towns. It is providing platform to entrepreneurs to realize their ‘Startup’ dreams, by incubation offers from State Incubators, and by providing mentorship to take their ideas to the next level.In fact, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (Startup India); Government of Punjab; and, Department of Industries & Commerce are endeavouring hard to see an entrepreneur from every family of the state. These departments are committed to create a world class technology start-up ecosystem. It is to foster culture of entrepreneurship among students to further contribute to increase knowledge, wealth and employment in the society.