30 Startups learned skills at IdeaNest 2.0 Pre-incubation program

Bhubaneswar: Atal Incubation Centre-Nalanda Institute of Technology Foundation (AIC-Nalanda)
supported by AIM, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India organized the Graduation Day of the second chapter
of their Annual Pre-Incubation Program, Idea Nest 2.0, on 19th August 2022at their premises.
AIC-Nalanda ran this program from June’22 to August’22 for Early-Stage Startups. A total of 80
applications were received from 11 states across India out of which 30 were selected to undergo
this 3-months program. This program was supported byStartup Odishaas the Ecosystem
Partner,Headstart Network Foundation as the Knowledge Partner, AWS Startup Ramp as
Technology Partner,SComm India, Startup Bhubaneswar and My Startup Yatraas the Outreach
Partners.
“IdeaNest” gave the participating startups an experiential&deep dive learning which was aimed at
empowering a startup beginner with an entrepreneurial mindset and business skills necessary to
progress from fundamental level to market level. The Graduation Day witnessed Pitch
Presentations from 21 Startups of varied sectors to a panel of 6 Jury Members followed by a
networking lunch and the final graduation ceremony. The event started with Mr.Devjyoti Mohanty,
CEO, AIC-Nalanda, welcoming the guestsand startupsof the pre-incubation program. He briefed on
how important networking is to a startup founder at all stages and also congratulated young brains
for having made it through.
Mr. Mukesh Kestwal, Program Head-Innovation Hub & Government Engagement, Headstart
Network Foundation in his remarks mentioned about the impactful pitches that he witnessed at the
session & his eagerness in looking forward to more such engagements from the Odisha Startup
Ecosystem.
This event was joined by Mr. Sandeep Guha Roy, Director, Prime Agro Food Processingwho spoke
about his journey as an entrepreneur andmaneuvering his way through all hurdles that came along
while establishing his brand.
Dr. Chidatmika Khatua, Director, Sushruta Hospital & Trauma Care in her address highlighted about
the importance of starting up based on one’s own idea and facing its own challenges.
This event also witnessed the presence of Dr. Sanjukta Badhai, Evangelist, Startup Odisha, who in
herkeynote address spoke about the various schemes offered by Startup Odisha to support the
startups. She also explained how the state support frameworkscanhelp them to strategize their
plans for growth and become investment ready. The ceremony ended with the felicitation of 21
startups for having successfully completed this 12-week long journey and making the final
graduation pitch.