In a significant push to foster an entrepreneurial mindset on campus, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has announced financial support for its affiliated colleges to organise interactive sessions with startup founders. The university's Centre for Innovation, Incubation, and Enterprise will provide grants of up to Rs 14,000 per college to host these knowledge-sharing events.
Funding and Framework for Entrepreneurial Dialogues
The initiative, titled 'SPPU Startup Talk Series – Conversations with Young Entrepreneurs', is scheduled to run from February 1 to February 28. Each participating college can use the grant to organise two separate talks. For each 90-minute session, the university will disburse Rs 5,000 as an honorarium for the invited entrepreneur and an additional Rs 2,000 for organisational expenses.
Professor Devidas Golhar, Director of Innovation and Incubation Linkages at SPPU, highlighted the need for this initiative. He stated that many colleges had previously expressed an inability to fund such sessions. "Now, colleges can invite startup founders of their choice, and if they do not have anyone in mind, I can provide them with a list as well," Prof. Golhar explained.
Eligibility and Participation Mandates
The programme has specific guidelines to ensure maximum impact. Each talk must attract a minimum of 100 students. The target audience includes undergraduates, postgraduates, and research scholars, along with faculty members who are interested. The invited founders should ideally have a background linked to incubators, startups, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), or broader innovation ecosystems.
The content of these interactive talks will focus on the entrepreneurs' personal journeys, the challenges they faced, the innovations they pursued, and the opportunities within the startup landscape. This aligns with the centre's broader goal of promoting innovation, startup awareness, and experiential learning.
Application Process and Broader Vision
Colleges keen to host these talks must apply by January 20 by filling out a dedicated Google form provided by the organisers. This talk series will complement other activities like startup bootcamps that the centre has planned across the university's various regions.
This move is part of SPPU's sustained efforts to build a vibrant startup culture. It follows other supportive measures, such as a fund to empower early-stage startups. By directly funding colleges to bring real-world entrepreneurs to students, the university aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical, ground-level business innovation.
