Lucknow: In a significant move to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-oriented skills among engineering students, the University of Lucknow organized a special awareness session titled “Startup SA Launchpad: Career Opportunities for Future Engineers” on May 13, 2025. The session was held under the visionary leadership and encouragement of Vice Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, jointly hosted by the Faculty of Engineering’s Training and Placement Cell and the university’s incubation centre Navankur Foundation.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Himanshu Pandey, In-charge of the Training and Placement Cell, stated, “In today’s competitive and tech-driven world, it is imperative that youth not only seek employment but also become job creators. Engineering students possess inherent innovation and problem-solving capabilities which, when nurtured with proper guidance and resources, can lead to meaningful contributions to society and nation-building.”
The session’s keynote speaker, Vivek Kumar, Manager at Navankur Foundation, provided a comprehensive overview of startup culture, its core pillars, and the wide range of career opportunities it offers. He emphasized that startups are not merely commercial ventures but represent innovation-driven solutions and a development-oriented mindset, offering young minds a platform to cultivate leadership, risk management, and creativity.
In his detailed presentation, Kumar highlighted the “Idea to Implementation” roadmap, explaining how a simple idea can evolve step-by-step into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and eventually into a full-fledged startup. He elaborated on the key components for startup success, including problem statement clarity, target audience identification, value proposition, business model design, and financial planning.
The speaker also informed students about the support ecosystem available through national initiatives such as Startup India, the Atal Innovation Mission, and other government programs designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation.
Breaking common myths surrounding the startup world, Kumar encouraged students to consider startups as a dynamic learning ground where they can quickly gain practical insights, take independent decisions, and build leadership abilities.
The session was organized and coordinated under the guidance of Prof. Amritanshu Shukla, Director of Navankur Foundation. The event successfully inspired students to explore entrepreneurship as a viable and empowering career path.
