SSSIHL Celebrates National Start-up Day 2025 – A Report
Introduction
The Institution’s Innovation Council, SSSIHL hosted the National Startup Day celebration event on 15 January 2025 at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashanthi Nilayam Campus, bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, students, teachers, and industry leaders. The event aimed to foster innovation and collaboration across various sectors.
The program commenced with an invocatory Vedam, followed by the inaugural address by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of health, education, and innovation, while commending the institution’s efforts in advancing research and entrepreneurship.
Key Highlights
1. Insights from Entrepreneurs
Prominent entrepreneurs delivered inspiring 10-minute talks, offering valuable insights into their entrepreneurial journeys and key lessons for success:
- Sujatha Raju, Founder of Sai Seva Business Pvt. Ltd., shared her 35 years of experience in startups, emphasizing honesty, opportunity, and team building as the three pillars of a successful business. Notably, she is the first woman in South India to obtain a license for franking mail.
- Arun Babu, Managing Director at Accenture, highlighted the critical steps to establishing a successful business, stressing the importance of clearly defining problems and diligently exploring solutions.
- Alex Abraham, a healthcare entrepreneur with 30 years of experience, addressed India’s healthcare infrastructure challenges. He underscored the transformative role of data analysis in reducing costs by up to 50% and emphasized prioritizing health over monetary gains.
- Ganesh Kumar, CEO, discussed the significance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving world. He highlighted the increasing competition between humans and machines, reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human values.
- Sudipta Paul Choudhury, Chief Marketing Officer, presented on startup challenges, citing examples like Stayzilla and Google Glass. She emphasized the importance of learning from failures, customer feedback, and robust cash flow management.
Each speaker provided unique perspectives on entrepreneurship, stressing the importance of integrity, adaptability, human values, data-driven decision-making, and financial prudence in building successful and sustainable businesses.
2. Research Achievements in Health and Energy
The event showcased groundbreaking research efforts led by various departments at the institute, highlighting advancements in health, energy, and environmental sustainability:
- Health Sector Innovations: Dr. Sripada Lakshminath, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, praised the interdisciplinary efforts that led the institute to become the first academic institution to receive approval for a COVID detection kit. He also highlighted the Department of Physics’ development of the SAIGC Torch, a gamma camera for detecting cancer cells.
- Energy Sector Advancements: Kumar Sai Swaran, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, elaborated on ongoing research in energy storage, harvesting, and electrocatalysis, aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability.
- Environmental Research Innovations: Dr. V. Pratyusha commended faculty-led interdisciplinary research in nanotechnology, hydrogen storage, water purification, and environmental sustainability, demonstrating the institute’s commitment to addressing global challenges.
These research presentations underscored the institution’s pioneering role in developing innovative solutions with potential industry-wide impact.
3. Panel Discussion
A panel discussion featuring six distinguished leaders from the startup ecosystem was the centerpiece of the event. Moderated by [Moderator’s Name], the discussion provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of scaling startups.
Key Discussion Points:
- Strategies for securing funding and building investor confidence.
- The importance of innovation and identifying opportunities in a competitive market.
- Insights into product manufacturing, scaling production, and maintaining quality.
- Navigating regulatory hurdles, particularly for health and energy startups.
The session concluded with the key takeaway that “Swami is more outcome-based, not output-based,” emphasizing that success should be measured by impact and results rather than volume alone.
Additionally, two parallel sessions were conducted that covered:
- Fire-Aid Chat with founders, innovators, and investors.
- Learning to Pitch, where students presented ideas to founders.
- Ideas to Maturity, covering startup growth, intellectual property, and investment.
- Emerging Trends in Electronics Manufacturing.
Conclusion
The National Startup Day celebration event successfully brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, and academic leaders, fostering meaningful discussions and collaborations. The speeches, panel discussions, and research presentations reinforced the crucial role of startups and academic institutions in driving innovation and sustainability.
The event concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by the faculty, recognizing the contributions of all participants and emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration. The ceremony ended with the Mangala Aarati, invoking blessings for the success of the initiatives discussed.
Read MoreSSSIHL Celebrates National Start-up Day 2024 – A Report
National Start-up Day was celebrated on 16th January 2024 at the Sai Hira Global Convention Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam. Organized by the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), SSSIHL, the event commenced with Vedam chanting followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and saw several Industry and academic experts on Innovation and Start-ups, alumni entrepreneurs, and seasoned professionals come together to share their thoughts on various topics with the young minds in the audience.
The august gathering was welcomed by Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor of SSSIHL setting the tone for an insightful day dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Prof. Reddanna, an Emeritus Professor from the University of Hyderabad, captivated the audience with a thought-provoking keynote address on the “Role of University in Promoting Start-ups” Dr. R. Venkataramanan, the Founder and CEO of Karkinos Healthcare, shed light on SSSIHL’s pivotal role in cultivating entrepreneurial skills. Mr. Naveen Lakkur, Chief Innovation Coach, shared profound insights into the inseparable nature of technology and innovation, drawing from his book “The Inseparable Twins”.
The event further featured a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Sri Lakshmikant, Co-Founder of Value Craftz Advisors, with esteemed panelists exploring diverse facets of entrepreneurship. Dr. Anshuman Das, CTO, and Co-founder of Labby Inc., shared his captivating “Startup Journey”. Later the IIC Magazine “SRISHTI”, was released by the Revered Chancellor & Vice-Chancellor.
Two exemplary faculty members of SSSIHL, Dr. Murli Ravi from the Department of Physics and Dr. B. E. Pradeep from the Department of Biosciences, were recognized for their outstanding contributions toward innovation. A panel discussion, skillfully moderated by Mr. M Sainath, Executive Director of ICFAI, delved into crucial topics such as adaptability, innovation, sustainability, and more, featuring insights from industry leaders.
The event drew to a close with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Swetha T, Assistant Professor in the Department of Management and Commerce, followed by the Maha Mangala Aarati, symbolizing the culmination of a day dedicated to the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.
Read MoreVISION OF THE REVERED FOUNDER CHANCELLOR
Students! Teachers! Educationists! Those eager to promote Education!
Undigested food brings about illness in the body; similarly undigested knowledge imparted by the present-day educational system has brought several illnesses in the social organism and the body politic.
The disease is promoting contrary feelings that are expressed in mutual conflicts. The educated are reacting with envious emotions towards those who have secured jobs; when they are unable to get jobs, they impute motives of nepotism, etc. and develop resentment, anger, and hatred. The system of education is the root cause of the prevalent discontent and resentment. In the past, western rulers of this country established a system of education which can produce suitable men for the jobs they could provide for the natives. Today, since we continue the same system, we have to create suitable jobs for the people who are educated on the old lines. This is a strange reversal of the role. It is clear that the agitations, anxieties, fears and frenzies that disturb the country are traceable to education as it prevails today.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 15 (1981 – 82)
08 March 1981