Seven student start-ups win over investors at 5th NES Start-up fest

• Over 700 students took part in this fest.

The 5th edition of the NES Start-up Fest organised by the E-Cell of NES Ratnam College unfolded at the NES International School campus. The theme “Inclusivity” was the buzzword at NES Start-p Fest where 2000 students, 60 student start-up ideas, 15 startup ideas by budding entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, differently-abled entrepreneurs & more were on display. 

 The start-up fest was flagged off by Mr.Bomi Gandhi, Associate VP, Godrej & Boyce(Interio Division) and Dr. R. Varadarajan, Founder President, NES-SVB Group in the presence of industry stalwarts like Mr. Satish Kadu, Founder & CEO, YOptima, Mr Milind Kher, CEO Hopitality Quorum, Dr. Aparna Rao, Founder & Co-ordinator at Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship, IIT Bombay, Lion Amir Virani, Founder & CEO Cynergi, CA Sudarshan Pukale, International Author, Entrepreneur & Business Consultant, Mr Girish Karnad, Director, Shamrao Vitthal Cooperative Bank and Mr. Amit Singhania among others. 

The top seven start-ups shortlisted for incubation are Pi Code Club for their Block Coding STEM for Kids, Intelligent Safety Project Transportation by Veer Bavashi, Complete Solar by Future Residential Complex, Mural Painting by Yogesh Arts, 100% Biodegradable sanitary napkins by Wanna Feel refreshed, Smart Bikes by Auto Tech, Cost reduction robotics by Smart Systems. These seven short listed start-ups will be guided and mentored by industry experts. 

Dr. R Varadarajan, Founder President NES SVB Group shared "India will soon be a vibrant nation in the world with 64 percent of its population in the working age group by 2020. All that we need is to guide the start-ups to scale up, inspire more students to aspire and become job creators, instead of becoming job-seekers. NES SVB Group and NES Ratnam College have been diligently working towards creating young entrepreneurs. This year we have selected 7 start-ups who will undergo a proper budgeting and feasibility study and based on the findings the start-ups will be incubated and mentored.” 

Mr.Bomi Gandhi, Associate VP, Godrej & Boyce (Interio Division) said, “There is nothing exhilarating than working for yourself. Tatas, Godrej and Birlas were start-ups many years back, now you the students are being given immense opportunity to turn your business thought into reality and its upto you to take the best out of it."

Students came up with innovative ideas and projects that drew appreciation and attention. Highlights were BMX cycle mounted with 100cc engine, mini electric go cart (mini e-car), hand-made customised jewellery, Bio-degradable Sanitary Napkins, Thermal electric Pain Reliever and more. Aneesh Karma a differently abled Innovator shared, “It was a pleasure to be part of the Start-up Fest. This is a perfect platform for all budding entrepreneurs be it students or differently abled or women to showcase their ideas and concepts". 

NES Start-up fest also conducted interesting sessions on The Startup Expo, E-Workshop, Idea Lab, Enablement Space, patenting, Start-up Quest and Success Stories. The fest also included workshops with a wide spectrum of themes like promoting Zero Waste Campaign by Social Entrepreneur Ms Mehndi Shidasani, Artifacts Using Wire by Grey entrepreneur Mr. Jamaal Shaikh, Low Cost Foot Orthosis by Mr. Aneesh Karma, and innovative use of Jute Clothline by an NGO of Women Entrepreneurs.

Students had put up 70 stalls which included 50 Start-up Expo stalls, 10 food stalls, 8 non food stalls and also 2 stalls were put up by an NGO which displayed their products in the fest. More than 2000 visitors came down to support the Start-up Fest. 

The start-up fest concluded with the Valedictory Session where the Chief Guest, Dr. R. Balasubramanian, Director, NES-SVB Group, drew upon personal anecdotes to motivate the young, aspiring entrepreneurs to persevere in their drive for change and innovation.

V P M’s Institute of Management Studies, Kohinoor Business School, Hinduja Medical Institute of Life Supporters, Dyne Infotech, Di-Sept –Hindustan Industries and L K Consultancy extended their support to the start-up fest!