Top Five ideas picked up for Pre Incubation Program in Startup Bootcamp Innovation Sprint 2021

New Delhi. Innovation Sprint at JNU: an ideation and innovation bootcamp organised at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, in online mode. It saw a successful culmination of the last few weeks of the very first startup bootcamp of JNU. The CEO of the AIC-JNUFI, Mr. Kavindra Kumar, announced the top 5 ideas including ‘Eka Kits’ and ‘MLabs’ that are set to join pre-incubation program at AIC-JNUFI.

During the Innovation Sprint, 81 new ideas from known as well as unfamiliar, yet trailblazing, entities were brought to the forefront to increase the visibility of the startup ecosystem in Jawaharlal Nehru University and the importance of participating in Innovation Bootcamps. The 28 teams that ultimately participated in the bootcamp, from the 33 finalists worked online and offline for weeks to bring their visions to life to solve many of the industry’s most pressing and critical challenges.
The Innovation Sprint at JNU was launched on 17th April 2021 in partnership with Forge Accelerator to catalyze innovations and start-ups in Atal Incubation Centre-Jawaharlal Nehru University Foundation for Innovation (AIC-JNUFI), New Delhi.
The Forge, an enterprise of the Sakthi Group, Coimbatore, hosted a three-phased Innovation Sprint for JNU students, faculty, researchers, alumni, and start-ups.
In online event held on an electrifying day of innovation, 23rd July 2021, the valedictory ceremony witnessed the august presence of Ms. Ishita Agrawal – Program Director Atal Innovation Mission, NITI AAYOG, Govt of India and Dr. Jatinder Singh, Director – PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of Dr. B.L. Lakshmi Meera AVP & Head-Forge Academy several dignitaries from JNU and the startup ecosystem. More than 60 participants witnessed the culmination of the event, which was organized in an online mode.
The CEO of the AIC-JNUFI, Mr. Kavindra Kumar welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of the Innovation Sprint how it will help stakeholders from all facets of the startup ecosystem and recognizes the “Continuum” between JNU and Industry. AIC-JNUFI is a ‘not for profit’ Company of JNU supported by Atal Innovation Mission and governed through the Board of Directors chaired by the Vice Chancellor, JNU and its operations are looked after by Dr. Hemant R. Kushwaha, as Coordinator, Incubation & Innovation.
While addressing the participants, Dr. Jatinder Singh emphasized on the uncertainty in businesses especially in the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world but also talked about opportunities in startup ecosystem. He compared startup journey as climbing Mt. Everest and advised to enjoy the journey. He also talked about role of Government in the entire startup ecosystem and advised Startups to focus on customer needs and must be adaptable to changing environment.
Chief Guest of the valedictory function, Ms. Ishita Agrawal talked about the crucial timing of the world and expectations from India. She talked about vision of ‘Aatm Nirbhar Bharat’ and how startup ecosystem can achieve it in a time bound manner. She highlighted the Government’s support for the buddying startups, especially to science and technology innovation-based startups and advised to innovate with the aim of “Lab to Land.”
Speaking about how this innovation sprint enabled interaction between AIC-JNUFI and Forge, Dr Kushwaha – Coordinator Incubation & Innovation, JNU said, “We are proud to partner with Forge Accelerator to increase engagement between the two startup enablers through which innovators could learn skills, tools, and practices of rigorous, experimentation-driven-startups”.
It was highlighted that the skills, tools, and techniques learnt by the bootcamp attendees during Innovation Sprint will encourage them into action and kickstart their journey from idea to enterprise.