IITans encouraged to start their own enterprise

After graduation, the most obvious option IIT students have is a lucrative job in a reputed national or multinational company. In fact, a majority of them have already found lucrative jobs long before graduating.

However, some aspire to set up their own enterprise instead of working under somebody but are plagued by numerous apprehensions. To give a boost to such students and encourage entrepreneurship, National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) and India@75 organised, the first in a series, an interactive discussion involving eminent panelists from the industry, who shared their experiences and career stories with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Around 60 to 75 inquisitive students from all streams of engineering actively participated in the discussion sharing their ideas with the experts. They were interested in knowing how feasible their ideas were. The panelists included Amit Bhatia, founder and CEO, Aspire Human Capital Management; Gouri Gupta from NSDC; and Bhairavi Jani, executive director, India@75.

According to students, discussions like these at regular intervals help removing dilemmas as a lot of them are reluctant to take risks even if they have good ideas.
Tejas Jaiswal, who participated in the discussion, said, “The idea of being an entrepreneur is one we have all nurtured. Platforms like these provide us with a springboard. It was great to hear the stories and insights of the experts. They provided us a new approach towards looking at our ideas.”

“I want to start an enterprise that is eco-friendly but was in two minds about whether to take up a job or pursue my dream. It has been cleared now. It’s not easy not to accept a lucrative job but I know some seniors who were in a bond with their companies and were asked to pay the company to leave the job and then start their own ventures,” said Tejas, a third-year electrical engineer student and director, Entrepreneurship Development Cell at IIT Delhi.

According to students, lesser people take up jobs at IITs as it doesn’t satisfy their potential or creative ability. Some prefer civil services or MBA after IIT, while courageous ones set up their own businesses.

Samyak Jain, another participant, said having a great business idea doesn’t help. It’s success lies in executing it efficiently in a restrictive budget. “We shared our ideas and experts told us how feasible they are and whether they have potential. And if it does then how to go about it.”

Ritu Bhan, a final-year chemical engineer student, said, “At IIT, it is difficult to choose between a job and setting up one’s own enterprise but you get Rs 10 to 12 lakh per year package. But there are students who want to go with their hearts rather than working under somebody but are afraid to take the risk. The discussion showed all those students a clearer way.”