Global Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Umesh Rathod Awarded Karmaveer Chakra Medal and REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship

Global Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Umesh Rathod Awarded Karmaveer Chakra Medal and REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship

Delhi, November 28, 2024 – In a remarkable acknowledgment of his unwavering dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, Umesh Rathod, founder of Lean Campus Startups, a celebrated leader in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, has been honored with the Karmaveer Chakra Medal and inducted into the prestigious REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship. Instituted by iCONGO in partnership with the United Nations, these awards recognize changemakers who inspire impactful solutions to global challenges. This accolade comes shortly after Rathod was awarded the Maharashtra Ratna Puruskar on September 30, 2024, for his exceptional dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across the state. The award was presented by Shri Deepak Kesarkar, then Hon. Minister of Education of Maharashtra, along with Gahininath Maharaj Ausekarji and renowned actress Sonali Kulkarni. 

A proud alumnus of IIM Calcutta, he is the author of acclaimed books such as The Fun of Being in a Startup, Startup Chanakya, and Startup Theories, Examples & Activities. His work has influenced countless aspiring entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers, making him a thought leader in the global entrepreneurial landscape. With a career spanning over 14 years, Rathod currently heads the Indovation Centre, Western Region, Maharashtra, and Goa under the aegis of the AICTE’s Ministry of Education Innovation Cell.

Rathod has mentored over 4.5 lakh students since 2010, empowering them to navigate the dynamic world of innovation and startups. His influence extends beyond India, with active participation in initiatives such as NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission, Nasdaq Entrepreneurship Center, MassChallenge Switzerland, National Entrepreneurship Network, CII, and Startup India.

A passionate faculty member and researcher in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Strategy, and Marketing, Rathod draws inspiration from visionaries like Swami Vivekananda, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His dedication has earned him a host of accolades, including the Nation Builder Award, Karamveer Bhaurao Patil Award, and Global Teaching Excellence Award.

Upon receiving the Karmaveer Chakra Medal on National Constitution Day, Rathod stated, “This honor is not just a recognition of my work but a testament to the potential of the millions of young minds I have had the privilege to guide. My mission remains to create sustainable and inclusive innovation ecosystems that empower the next generation of global leaders.“

(The author presented his new book to the Honourable Home Minister Shri Amit Shah at a recent event)

As a Mentor of Change with NITI Aayog and other prestigious organizations, Rathod has championed early-stage startups, transforming campuses into hubs of innovation. His initiatives have bridged the gap between academia, industry, and government, cementing his role as a catalyst for progress. The REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship is a testament to Rathod’s transformative vision and impact on society. With a steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators, he continues to lead with purpose and passion.

Reach out to him at 9757426699 | www.umeshrathod.in

Video Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/umeshrathore_entrepreneurshipeducation-startups-startupindia-activity-7243537720898138112-WcpE

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Industries & Commerce Department organises one-day state workshop

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Industries & Commerce Department organises one-day state workshop

Gurugram, To promote women’s entrepreneurship in the State, the Department of Industries & Commerce, Haryana in association with the Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry, and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GOI has organized One Day State Workshop for Women Entrepreneurs in Innovation & Startup Hub, Gurugram on Tuesday.

With rising number of women entrepreneurs in the state, it is vital to launch programs focusing specifically on women entrepreneurs to ensure that curated support is provided to women aspiring to become entrepreneurs as well as to existing women entrepreneurs to grow their ventures.

The state of Haryana boasts of one of the country’s largest ecosystems for women entrepreneurs and holds significant potential in leading the women startup ecosystem, out of 5000+ Haryana based recognized startups from Haryana, 2300+ are having at least one-woman director.

The objective of the workshop was to bring together industry experts & women startups to create a joint platform for information exchange, capacity building, mentorship, and providing pitching opportunities thereby also leading to the creation of state-specific group and networks of women entrepreneurs.

Shri Manish Lohan, HCS, Joint Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department graced the occasion with his presence and delivered a welcome address to the distinguished Guests and participants.

The event witnessed the presence of more than 100+ Enthusiastic Women Startup entrepreneurs. During the event, the Startup Haryana Team, Industries & Commerce Department threw light upon the Journey of the Startup ecosystem in Haryana followed by an enlightening session from the Startup India team. The guest speakers from India Accelerator also enlightened the participants on the approach and methodology of the startup ecosystem. Also, 15+ Women Entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to the investors and incubators.

Several officials from Industries & Commerce Department, HARTRON, NASSCOM the Knowledge Partner, Startup India Team including Nitin Bansal, Chief Technology Officer; Sh. Naveen Chaudhary, In-charge-HMSDC, Sudhanshu Mittal, Director NASSCOM CoE-IOT Gurugram, Sh. Abhinav Sisodia, Sh. Akhilesh Vyas & Ms. Jigisa were present during the event.

U18 Launchpad – The First Startup Accelerator for School Students in India

U18 Launchpad – The First Startup Accelerator for School Students in India

The first batch of ThinkStartup U18 Launchpad begins, Venue IIT Delhi

New Delhi: The U18 Launchpad by ThinkStartup, first of its kind program for high school students in India, kicked off on 30th May 2022. The program is being held at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and was inaugurated by Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, former Director of IIT Delhi in the august presence of Col. A K Pokhriyal, CEO, Management Entrepreneurship Professional Skills Council under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

In a first of its kind initiative, select group of 32 school students from all across the country are working day and night over a two-week period to build and launch their dream startups. The program is highly selective and offers a rigorous new venture building experience for young entrepreneurs who are studying in schools. Sneha Sinha, one of the selected participants from Billabong High School, Bhopal said, “I am very excited about attending this program, as you get to work with top professors of IIT Delhi and leading startup experts”.

Speaking at the inauguration of U18 Launchpad, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, said, “This is a unique initiative where school students work with IIT faculty and startup mentors to launch their dream ventures”. He further said, “U18 Launchpad is a collaborative effort to support motivated bright school students with their innovation ideas”.

Col Pokhriyal, CEO, MEPSC, said, “Somewhere, out there right now, there are a handful of young people preparing for the next big thing. They are tearing things apart, creating apps and videos, tinkering and dreaming about what the world needs in the next few years. U18 Launchpad is path-breaking initiative that supports such ambitions. We hope to see the next Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg coming out U18 Launchpad”.

Shivani Singh Kapoor, Cofounder, ThinkStartup said, “After the huge success of Youth Ideathon in 2021, we kept exploring the best ways to nurture the startup ideas of young school students further. Today we are happy to state that we have been able to bring together support from some of India’s leading institutions, globally renowned faculty and mentors and state of the art labs to help students develop their entrepreneurial ideas”.

Sanjeeva Shivesh, Program Director of U18 Launchpad said, “Inspired by the Startup India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision of our honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U18 Launchpad endeavours to work with school students to help them find new solutions to problems faced by society. It is for the first time that school students have got an opportunity to learn secrets of design, innovation and entrepreneurship from IIT professors. It is a rigorous program involving lecture sessions, one on one mentoring and access to Makerspace facility where students can build prototypes, all this in two weeks.”.

U18 Launchpad is a new form of exciting experiential learning for talented school students offered by ThinkStartup’s experienced team with leading industry experts along with IIT Delhi’s faculty, mentors, and labs for high quality prototyping, product development, startup building and showcase to investors and lead customers. The program also involves engagement of PhD Scholars, Post Graduate and Undergraduate students of IIT Delhi as mentors to school students. The first batch of U18 has students working on cutting edge products such as hovercraft bike, sealant for gas pipelines for hydrogen gas transportation, school meals, learning app for hearing impaired, financial literacy for school students, mental health and loneliness, sustainability, career counselling and mentoring for school students and several such ideas.

www.thinkstartup.in

[COMING SOON] Mental Health Startup, MoodBridge, Aims To Deliver The Best Emotional Support On The Internet!

[COMING SOON] Mental Health Startup, MoodBridge, Aims To Deliver The Best Emotional Support On The Internet!

An Indian startup, MoodBridge, is shadowing mental health taboos, thus impacting the world with an aim to manage your emotional health at home.

While depression and anxiety are a part of everyday life for several people, the gap between people needing care and those with access to care remains substantial, meaning adequate treatment coverage remains extremely low. In 2011 alone, there were 0.047 psychologists, 0.301 psychiatrists, and 0.166 nurses per 100,000 mental-health patients in India.

“People adjust to emotional pain rather than dealing with it. So we felt an urge to build a support system that can hold every member of our world to help them fight loneliness, overcome addictions, and cope with other mental disorders to bring them back to a place of light and hope.”

~ Founders Mohammad Bohari and Taha Saifee on the startup’s mission.

An on-demand emotional wellness platform, MoodBridge, comprised of professional therapists, trained active listeners, and self-care tools, is coming your way!

Recognized by Startup India, MoodBridge offers multi-dimensional services under one advanced and safe deep technology powered by a compassionate community, caring and trained active listeners, experienced therapists, smart growth paths, and self-care tools.

“Think about your family and friends and guess about the stress they get daily, but they might not feel comfortable sharing their emotional discomforts with those around them. So, the big aim is to build the best emotional support system for the internet because it lets people be anonymous and seek the help they wouldn’t otherwise seek.”

~ Founders Mohammad Bohari and Taha Saifee explained how they plan to break the stigma around mental health.

The platform will also have many self-help guides for different types of emotional issues ranging from anxiety attacks to practicing self-forgiveness, thus strongly influencing the world and helping thousands of lives who need emotional and mental health support.

“MoodBridge is for anyone who wants to live in a world rich with love and support. We understand that each of us is inherently valuable, and we see our differences as a strength. We are connected in our shared purpose of creating a place where all can find acceptance and be welcomed to a home where we all belong.”

~ The Founders told the press.

The startup’s official website is currently in the works, but its presence can be found on Instagram.