Ranked 58th
The inaugural session began with a prayer service. The sponsor alumna, Ms. Smitha D’Souza, Managing Director of Prime Tech Equipment Repair Ltd., gave a message that entrepreneurship develops by dream, passion, and dedication by igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship in all.
Dr Rajani Suresh, Dean (Academics & Research), department of MBA, graced the occasion by encouraging young entrepreneurs and giving a bird’s-eye view. In his inaugural address, the chief guest of the day, Shri Shashidhar Pai Maroor, president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), spoke on entrepreneurship in India.
Dr (Fr) Melwyn Pinto S.J, Director, AIMIT, emphasised entrepreneurship with a sacristan’s story. He stated that inculcating ideas, insight, and passion can lead everyone to become an entrepreneur.
The first session was chaired by Sri Annappa Pai M, the Managing Director of ACE Foods Pvt Ltd. He focused on his entrepreneurial story. His business of manufacturing started due to the non-availability of tasty potato chips. He stressed the importance of analysing before acting and added that entrepreneurship starts from the time we are born. His suggestions to young entrepreneurs were to focus on the product, quality, and customer rather than the money. He also said it would be useful to learn new languages to communicate with the suppliers, dealers, service providers, and customers. The session ended with a question answer session.
The second resource person of the day was CA. M. N. Pai, founder of M/s M.N. Pai Associates, Chartered Accountants, who spoke on entrepreneurship and the business plan. He said that entrepreneurship is like playing with legos, where jumbled legos are put in logical order and built to do entrepreneurship. He gave insights on various topics like pros and cons of entrepreneurship, profit vs wealth, the 7 stages of business-IISSSSS, roles and lessons as an entrepreneur, the contents of a business plan, and also stated a few examples of entrepreneurs. The session ended with answering questions.
The third session in the afternoon was chaired by Nitin Vas, a social entrepreneur and environmental activist and founder of Paper Seed. He gave insights on social entrepreneurship. He spoke about entrepreneurship vs. social entrepreneurship, the importance of paper seed products, and also said that money is not everything. He also exhibited recyclable paper seed products with uses like seed paper, seed pencil, seed pen, Agarbathi, tooth brush, Mangalore toys, masks, bed lamps, and explained packaging.
The fourth session was mentored by Sorabh Nahata, entrepreneur, Canara Electric and Refrigeration Co. and Air Conditioner Point. The budding entrepreneurs were Rachel Pereira, proprietor of ‘The Tiny Baker’, and Atira of Atsy Soap. The AIMIT studentspreneurs were Ajith Joseph P of ‘Holiday Creation’ and Vaishnavi Hosur of ‘The Inner Glow Art’.
The inaugural session was compered by Nitha Mary Varghese.
Ms Romola Venisa Mendonca, student coordinator, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Swapna Rose was the staff coordinator of the event. The programme gave students full-fledged insights to become successful entrepreneurs.
