Mangaluru : The Nitte Karavali Startup launch ceremony was held on Thursday, September 12th, 2024, at 10:30 AM in Hotel Ocean Pearl, Mangaluru. The event was officially inaugurated by Dr. G. Santhosh Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dakshina Kannada District; Dr. Shantharam Shetty, Pro-Chancellor of Nitte DU; and Shri Nandakumar, Director (Refinery) at MRPL. Members from industry associations, successful regional entrepreneurs, and heads of academic institutions were also present in the event.

Dr. A P Achar, CEO of AIC Nitte Incubation Center welcomed the gathering and gave an introduction to the Karavali Startup Programme.

Dr. Shantharam Shetty, Pro Chancellor, Nitte (DU)
Startups play a pivotal role in economic development. He emphasized the importance of dreaming big and taking action, encouraging the audience to be visionaries in their respective fields. He highlighted how startups drive economic growth, citing examples of great personalities like J.R.D. Tata and Narayan Murthy, who began their businesses with small investments and grew them into some of the most successful companies-

Dr. G Santhosh Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner DK inaugurated the program.
He suggested the idea of growing vegetables and exporting them to other countries, promising his department’s full support to young entrepreneurs. He also congratulated AIC-Nitte and Nitte University for organizing this event.

Shri Nandakumar V- Director (Refinery) MRPL
The environment presents challenges, but extraordinary people turn those challenges into opportunities. He shared the example of demonetization in 2016 and how a few startups emerged and thrived by taking advantage of the situation. He encouraged young minds to identify gaps in society and fill them, which is the key to becoming successful entrepreneurs. He also highlighted the support their organization has extended to help startups grow.

CA Ananthesh V Prabhu- President KCCI, mangaluru-
He congratulated Dr. A.P. Achar and Nitte University for organizing the program. He highlighted how Karavali is a hub of entrepreneurship, with Udupi and Mangalore districts emerging as key IT sectors in the state. He even referred to the Karavali region as the ‘Ice Cream Cradle of India,’ thanks to its significant ice cream production. He also spoke about the roles and contributions of KCCI in supporting the startup ecosystem.

Shri Ajith Kamath- Chairman- CII Mangalore District Council
He expressed his pride in being an alumnus of Nitte Institution and being part of the Karavali Startup Program. Ajith Kamath acknowledged that new ventures started by young people, often with limited corporate experience, face many challenges in their early stages. Incubation centers like AIC are there to guide and support these young entrepreneurs through those hurdles. He also emphasized that AIC Nitte aims to be a one-stop solution for all startup-related queries.

Dr. Vijayendra Vasanth- Director, UCCI, Udupi
He spoke about the importance of dreaming big, saying, ‘Fortune knocks on the door first, but if you don’t open it, misfortune follows.’ He explained that while an ordinary person waits for opportunities, a wise person seizes them, and an extraordinary person turns everything into an opportunity.”

Gopal Mugeraya- Vice President, Technical Education, Nitte (DU)
He called Mangaluru and Upudi as “Janara Thana”. He congratulated AIC- Nitte for hosting this program and wished for the success of this event. M. Athmika Amin, Chairperson, Young Indians Mangaluru Chapter, CA Salome Lobo Pereira, Co-Chairperson, Young Indians, Mangaluru Chapter, Madhukar Kudva, Young Indians Innovation Vertical Chair, Adeeth Kalbavi, Young Indians Innovation vertical co-chair and other young Indians mangaluru chapter members were also present.

Dr. G Srinikethan, retired Professor, In-charge NITK STEP gave the vote of thanks.

Overview of the Nitte Karavali Startup Programme
The Karavali region of Karnataka is rapidly emerging as the state’s second-best business destination, following Bengaluru. This area is noted for its prestigious educational institutions, rich cultural heritage, and robust industries in banking, hospitality, and education, setting the stage for substantial growth. Mangaluru and Udupi, two coastal cities in Karnataka, are poised to become India’s next IT hubs, capitalizing on their strategic locations, excellent infrastructure, and skilled workforce. Often referred to as the “Silicon Beach of India” these cities offer a unique combination of coastal beauty, modern amenities, and significant growth potential.

To further cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth and enhance the profile of the Karavali region, the AIC Nitte Incubation Center, in collaboration with the Institution Innovation Council of Nitte Deemed to be University, is launching the Karavali Startup Programme. This programme is designed to engage and empower young individuals with entrepreneurial aspirations by providing them a platform to present their innovative ideas to industry experts, receive valuable mentorship, and explore vital investment opportunities essential for their startup success.

The Startup Karavali initiative seeks to promote innovation, stimulate economic growth, and create job opportunities by encouraging young entrepreneurs in the Udupi-Mangalore region to identify and advance innovative ideas and talents ready to launch future enterprises. This program not only fosters innovation and the commercialization of business concepts but also strives to enhance the region’s per capita income. It supports local startups by offering guidance and resources to aspiring entrepreneurs, aligning with national initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Furthermore, it aims to build a network of potential investors, professionals, and entrepreneurs within the region.

The programme invites participation from students, research teams, and early or idea-stage startups with innovative concepts. Individuals originally from the Karavali districts who are interested in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures are also encouraged to apply. Business ideas can be submitted by individuals or teams (up to three members) from September 12th to October 15th, 2024. Submissions should include affiliations and demonstrate technical and commercial feasibility, originality, and potential for economic or social impact.

All participants will have the opportunity to attend a knowledge-sharing session led by experts. The top 100 shortlisted teams will be invited to a four-day Boot Camp. The top 30 teams will enter a Pre-incubation Program, while the top 20 teams will advance to the Karavali Incubation Program, where eligible startups can receive up to ₹25 lakhs in seed funding during the incubation phase. This initiative represents a significant step toward establishing Karavali as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Karavali Startup Progarmme is supported MRPL and Canara Bank

For more information on programme visit the website www.aicnitte.com