Ideas shine in festival of innovation

AHMEDABAD: Visitors at the eighth edition of Empresario, the annual student startup summit at the Entreprenurship Development Institute of India (EDII) saw a lineup of entry and mid-level startups from across the country. While a carpenter supported by NID participated in the event with his air-conditioned sofa, a Delhi-based startup promised a herbal medicine for menstrual cramps.

Dr Sunil Shukla, director of EDII, said that the economy and society need resilient interventions, specifically in the hinterland where traditional businesses still thrive. “Gujarat has one of the most robust of the ecosystems for new startups and it is a platform for students and innovators to connect with industry and experts,” he said.

Savji Dholakia, who was part of the discussion on ‘Manufacturing New India,’ said, “Fear is the primary reason behind unsuccessful businesses. Many entrepreneurs put their best brains on executing key ideas, but somewhere they lack a connect with the people. Any decision taken from the heart will be successful, unless it is at the cost of damage to the nation, family or the entrepreneur themselves.”