Mysuru: Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDM-IMD) had organised an entrepreneurship event called Startup Charcha on Feb. 9 as part of various entrepreneurship activities undertaken by ‘Swayam — Students E Cell of SDM-IMD.’

The event also brought together the best entrepreneurial minds who provided insights tempered with practical advice on Startups to MBA students and budding entrepreneurs.

Outlining the various activities of Entrepreneurship Cell at SDM-IMD,  Dr. M. R. Suresh, Professor and Facilitator of the Cell, highlighted that SDM-IMD is well on the pathway to emerge as knowledge resource centre in the area of entrepreneurship to guide not only budding entrepreneurs but also other institutions as well.

Ajith R. Pai, Jt. Managing  Director, VWF Group of Industries – Mysuru, who delivered the keynote address said that the most important aspect was not having an idea but the execution of it. Advising MBA students, he said, “entrepreneurs are those who start working on their ideas and wantrepreneurs are those who just have an idea.”

He also dwelt on the reasons why most of the businesses did not last for more than three generations and the importance of exiting an outmoded enterprise.

There was a Panel Discussion on the theme ‘Getting Started in Enterprise – Issues and Facets,’ moderated by Dr. M. R. Suresh, Professor at SDM-IMD. The panellists were Vipin Prasad, Founder, Joiningdotsinc.com and SDM-IMD alumnus; Sanjay Srinivasamurthy, Management Consultant and Strategic Advisor; and Prof. Rajendra Todalbagi, SDM-IMD.

The discussion highlighted that the policy environment was very favourable in the country for Startups with our Prime Minister himself perceiving Startups as instruments of transformation. The government was providing not just financial help but also operational guidance and risk minimisation support for entrepreneurs. The panellists told the young minds in the audience not to wait for a favourable policy to be written but work on possible ideas and convince investors.

There was also a student case study presentation event Prerana in which four teams profiled successful entrepreneurs in different fields.