DSU E-CELL & PRE-INCUBATION CELL - 27th - 29th JULY 2023

DSU E-CELL & PRE-INCUBATION CELL - 27th - 29th JULY 2023

On July 27, 2023, Mr. M. Somasundaram, the Managing Director of AMMAN TRY Steels Group, inaugurated the entrepreneurship cell and pre-incubation cell at Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University. In his inaugural address, he emphasized the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and creating opportunities for oneself. He shared real examples from his own entrepreneurial journey, including how he conceived the concept of AMMAN TRY and the challenges he faced in a less technologically advanced era. Mr. Somasundaram highlighted the value of being the first to execute an idea, as it can provide a competitive edge.

Following his speech, Mr. Stalin Jacob, Associate Vice-President of StartupTN, conveyed the mission and vision of StartupTN to the audience. Dr. R. Nagarajaprakash, Coordinator for Sponsored Research at DSU, expressed gratitude to StartupTN for collaborating with DSU's E-Cell and Pre-Incubation Cell and discussed the future prospects of the newly inaugurated cells. Dr. V. Sekar, Dean of Planning and Development, offered the vote of thanks, and earlier, Dr. O. S. Asiq Rahman delivered the welcome address, followed by the Presidential Address by Dr. C. K. Ranjan, Vice-Chancellor of DSU.

The E-Cell and Pre-Incubation Cell were officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mr. M. Somasundaram, and guests explored the startups exhibited inside. Additionally, students of DSU showcased their startup ideas through posters, with over 30 concepts on display. Mr. Somasundaram engaged enthusiastically with the students, providing valuable inputs and advice.

In the afternoon session of Inno Fest 23, Mr. Stalin Jacob, Dr. Suvek Bala (CEO, EDII ABIRF Trichy), Mr. Uma Sankaran, and Mr. Prabhu Karupannan (Project Associates, StartupTN) mentored students about setting up startups and developing them into viable ventures. Fifteen startups from the expo delivered pep talks, sharing their experiences and successes.

The next day, Mr. Krishnan, CEO of CEDI-NIT Trichy, conducted a mentoring session, evaluating student startup ideas with internal faculty members. In the afternoon, Mr. Vinoth Malaikani, Incubation Scientist from EDII ABIRF, introduced government schemes and grants available to aspiring entrepreneurs, encouraging students to seek support from EDII.

In the valediction, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Registrar of DSU, delivered the closing address. Three student startup ideas won cash prizes and mementos. "Food waste management" led by Mr. Varun, Mr. Nihanth, Mr. Giri, and Mr. Mukesh secured the first place, receiving a cash prize of INR 20,000. "Medibox" led by Ms. Harika, Mr. Jaswanth, Ms. Vijitha, and Mr. Subramaniam came in the second place, winning a cash prize of INR 10,000. The third place went to "Stockit" led by Mr. Kumaran, Mr. Swaroop, Mr. Saideep, Ms. Rosini, Ms. Hemalatha, and Ms. Harika, who received a cash prize of INR 5,000.

Inno Fest 23 was a successful event, providing a platform for students to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and learn from experienced individuals in the startup ecosystem. The event encouraged collaboration, innovation, and networking among budding entrepreneurs, leaving a positive impact on DSU's entrepreneurial community.