Webinar on “How to Begin a Start-Up?”

To orient the students of B.Sc. (Agri), Forestry and Community Science about the process of developing an idea into development of prototype and further get into the creation of startup an online webinar on “How to Begin a Start-Up” was organized on 15 May 2021 at UAS, Dharwad. Mr. C. M. Patil, Director of KrishiKalpa from Bengaluru was invited as guest speaker. Dr. P.U.Krishnaraj, Co-ordinator, IDP welcomed the guest and participants. Addressing the webinar, Dr. M. B. Chetti, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad, expressed that student ideas are very good and help farmer to improve their farming operations and also value addition to agriculture commodities. Students are provided with technical and financial support to carry out their work. The prototypes are expected in six months time as they have completed validation of the idea. UAS, Dharwad has started Start Up support a decade back. It has established section eight company to help students to take up enterprise. University is also working in collaboration with Deshpande Start Up and other institute to commercialize the products. The Director of KrishiKalpa Mr. C.M.Patil, talking on how to begin a Start Up, said that students should have passion and persuasion to succeed. Now the environment is very friendly to establish Start Up. Start Up not only provides an employment to students but help farming community to improve their livelihood.

Eighteen groups of students have started their Start Up journey conceiving an idea to address specific problem of farmers. The main ideas addressed includes improved seed drills, weed management devices, harvesters, live stock feed, value addition to agri products, apps on labour management etc. Students were encouraged and supported under World Bank Funded Institution Development Plan (IDP) at UAS, Dharwad. About 200 students and faculty attended the webinar. The webinar was organized by Dr. P.U.Krishnaraj, Co-ordinator, IDP and Dr. S. S. Dolli, Nodal officer (SS), IDP, UASD, Dharwad