Kalpetta: The TEJAS Workshop, organised by Startup India in association with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), brought together around 90 aspiring entrepreneurs, students, innovators, and startup enthusiasts in Wayanad to promote entrepreneurship and create awareness about the startup ecosystem and the various support mechanisms available for early-stage entrepreneurs.
The TEJAS Workshop was held at Dr. Moopen’s Medical College and was inaugurated by College Principal Dr. Elizabeth Joseph. Varun R, CEO of Dr. Moopen’s iNEST, welcomed the gathering.
The event witnessed the participation of representatives from Startup India, the Government of India’s flagship startup platform, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), and the District Industries Centre (DIC), who shared insights into government initiatives and entrepreneurial support systems available for startups and innovators.
During the TEJAS Workshop, Startup India Assistant Manager Snehansh Sinha and Associate Anshul Gautam conducted an interactive session highlighting various programmes and initiatives offered by Startup India.
They explained the benefits of startup recognition, funding opportunities, policy support, and ecosystem enablers available to entrepreneurs while engaging directly with founders and aspiring entrepreneurs attending the workshop.
Dr. Deepu Krishnan PR, Assistant Manager at KSUM, delivered a session focusing on Kerala’s vibrant startup ecosystem and the broad range of support extended by the organisation.
The session covered grants, seed funding opportunities, incubation support, mentorship programmes, and other initiatives designed to nurture innovative startup ideas and help aspiring entrepreneurs build scalable ventures.
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Representing the District Industries Centre (DIC), Wayanad, Rakesh Ramu, Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), presented an overview of the various schemes and services offered by the department.
He explained how DIC supports local businesses and startups through business guidance, registration assistance, financial assistance schemes, and access to multiple government programmes available at the district level.
A key highlight of the TEJAS Workshop was a session by Sooraj K. Babu, Portfolio Manager and AI Scientist at Dr. Moopen’s iNEST, titled “Innovation Beyond the Metros: Why Aspiring Cities Need a Different Playbook.”
During the session, he emphasised the immense innovation potential emerging from non-metro regions and highlighted the importance of adopting localized approaches to startup development.
The workshop also featured an entrepreneurial experience-sharing session by Amar Rajan, Founder and CEO of Mindcarter.
He shared his entrepreneurial journey and practical insights into building and scaling startups, offering participants valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and business growth.
The TEJAS Workshop concluded with a guided visit to the incubation facilities at Dr. Moopen’s iNEST.
Participants received first-hand exposure to the innovation infrastructure, mentoring ecosystem, and incubation support available for startups operating from the centre.
The workshop was organised as part of the Aspirational Districts Programme with the objective of strengthening Wayanad’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation among students, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and early-stage founders.
Through the TEJAS Workshop, the organisers aimed to create greater awareness about the support available through Startup India, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the District Industries Centre (DIC), and other ecosystem partners, while motivating participants to transform innovative ideas into sustainable ventures.
