The 24th edition of the Startup Master Class (SMC), a flagship event organised by the IIT Kanpur Alumni Association, took place in New Delhi with unprecedented collaboration from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. This marks the first time the event has been officially supported by the DST, heralding a new chapter in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in India.
Startup Master Class (SMC) 2024, centred on four key national missions spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)—the National Quantum Mission, Waste2Wealth Programme, Cyber-Physical Systems Mission, and National Geospatial Programme—aims to address critical technological challenges while driving sustainable development and innovation.
Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of DST, emphasised the event's significance, envisioning it as a platform to foster collaboration among government and private stakeholders. Dr. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, highlighted the initiative as a milestone in advancing translational research and building a vibrant startup ecosystem. Rakesh Sharma, President of the IIT Kanpur Alumni Association, praised the leadership of Jai Shankar Sharma and Sunil Singhal in organizing an event featuring over 500 startups, investors, academicians, and national mission directors.
Jai Shankar Sharma expressed gratitude for hosting the event in Delhi, underscoring its role in forging partnerships to mentor startups aligned with critical national missions and enabling their growth. The event focused on identifying potential investee startups, providing mentorship and financial guidance, enhancing the viability of startups in national missions, and leveraging investor expertise to boost innovation.
With participation from prominent national mission directors, academicians from IIT Kanpur, and potential investors, SMC 2024 has positioned itself as a transformative platform for fostering innovation, nurturing startups, and advancing India's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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 C. Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University at the announcement of the launch of India’s First Constitution Museum (1)_20241122101146_original_image_20.webp)
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