YEF & IIITD Host 'Classroom To Startup' Summit

The Young Entrepreneurs Foundation (YEF), in collaboration with the IIITD Innovation & Incubation Centre, organised a transformative Live Summit, "Classroom to Startup: School Innovation Hubs for Nurturing Future Entrepreneurs." Held recently, the event gathered a diverse audience of school principals, educators and industry leaders to discuss groundbreaking approaches to fostering entrepreneurship in academic settings. The summit aimed to prepare the next generation for a future driven by innovation and adaptability.

The event was graced by Chief Guest, Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Secretary of CBSE and Pankaj Vajpayee, Director and CEO of the IIITD Innovation & Incubation Centre. Vajpayee, who also serves as Dean of Corporate Relations and Entrepreneurship at IIIT Delhi, welcomed participants and emphasised the role of higher educational institutions in nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among students. He highlighted IIITD’s various initiatives and courses designed to equip students for an entrepreneurial future.

Speakers and Panels Emphasise Innovation and Support for Young Entrepreneurs

Prominent figures from the education sector, including Jyoti Gupta, K.R. Mangalam World School;. CB Mishra of Prudence School; and Nita Arora, Sri Venkateshwar International School, shared insights on progressive teaching methods and the empowering potential of incubation centres for young minds. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi (SCERT) discussed the development and promotion of the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum across Delhi schools, while Akhilesh Mishra, Department of Science and Technology (DST) pledged DST’s support for YEF's initiatives. Mishra assured attendees that DST would fund innovative student ideas, strengthening the foundation for creativity and growth.

Summit Highlights

Equipping students with future-ready skills-interactive sessions offered educators practical tools and strategies to bring entrepreneurship and innovation into their classrooms, empowering students with essential skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving world

Insightful talks set the tone for understanding the critical role of entrepreneurship in education and its impact on preparing students for future challenges.

Experts delved into teaching methods that nurture innovation and highlighted how incubation centres can support young entrepreneurs.

Young entrepreneurs Ayaan Goel; Vinayak Goel; and Anshika Kaur shared their journeys, inspiring students to pursue entrepreneurial dreams at any age.

YEF’s boot camp Initiative 

YEF Entrepreneurship boot camp is a transformative five-day programme crafted to ignite entrepreneurial passion and equip students with the tools needed to succeed in the business world. Aligned with the principles of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, this boot camp emphasises experiential learning and practical skill development. Through interactive workshops, case studies and hands-on projects, participants will delve into key aspects of entrepreneurship, including idea generation, business planning and strategic execution.

In a bid to further support young innovators, YEF announced its inaugural five-day boot camp for students in grades X-XI, scheduled from December 25-29, 2024, at EDII in Ahmedabad. This programme will equip students with essential tools and confidence to explore their entrepreneurial potential.