The SJIM Catalyst Centre at St. Joseph's Institute of Management, Bangalore, recently hosted a mentorship and advisory session focused on practical steps to register student ideas into formal entities. The discussion was led by mentors Dr. Nirmala Joseph, Fr. Olvin Veigas SJ, and Mr. Amar Bhattacharya, who provided insights into the legal and practical processes of turning ideas into registered ventures.

During the session, five promising initiatives were presented, each reviewed in detail by the advisory team. Among these, one idea was deemed ready for registration.

A noteworthy aspect of the meeting was the participation of Josmi James, a non-student attendee, who introduced her startup idea, “Rosevin.” Focusing on creative crafts, her concept was well-received, and the SJIM Catalyst Centre has committed to incubating her venture, offering support and resources to help her brand grow.

This session highlights SJIM’s commitment to fostering creativity and entrepreneurship, extending opportunities to both students and non-students to nurture their business ideas. The meeting was held on September 19, 2024

The members of SJIM Catalyst Centre made a 3-hour trip in an Ola shuttle tempo traveller from Koramangala to the Ola Future factory, Krishnagiri. The day was filled with exciting events, starting with a captivating opening concert by Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej.

Key Highlights:

• Product Launches: We witnessed the unveiling of Ola's new electric bike series, a significant addition to their product lineup.
• Technological Advancements: The event showcased Ola's plans to develop India's first AI chip, Bodhi, and the introduction of Bharat cells, which will replace the 2170 cells. Ola is also working towards building portable warehouses, which would act as dark stores to facilitate quick-commerce deliveries for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) ecosystem.
• Gigafactory Expansion: We learned about Ola's ambitious plans to expand their Gigafactory, a crucial step in their drive to scale up electric vehicle production.
• Interactive Experiences: The event offered a variety of activities, including a wide selection of lunch options, photo booths, games, and opportunities to interact with visitors and industry experts.
• Networking Opportunities: We had the privilege of engaging in conversations with VCs and Suvanil Chatterjee, the Chief Technology and Product Officer at Ola. These interactions provided valuable insights into the industry and future trends.

Overall, our visit to Ola Future factory was an enriching experience that showcased the company's commitment to innovation and sustainable electric mobility. We left the event inspired by Ola's vision for the future and their contributions to the Indian electric vehicle landscape.

A good number of SJIM students along with Catalyst Centre Head Mr Amar Bhattacharya accompanied the group.

The event took place on August 15, 2024 at Ola Future Factory at Krishnagiri.

The Market Research students at SJIM had the unique opportunity to hear from a Social Entrepreneur whose journey started in the very same classroom where they are currently figuring out the world of ‘marketing research’.

Maitri Wadher, an SJIM alumni of the 2016 batch, in 2016 for her class project for the Market Research course, did a study to understand the issues and struggles of the ‘left handed’ people in this very ‘right handed’ world we live in. People who are left-handed are called many different things, “Southpaws”, "Lefties", and other simply mean names, like “Weird” or “Strange.”

Maitri, a ‘southpaw’, recalled her struggles and challenges growing up in a world made for right-handed people. Maitri decided she had to do something to ease the lives of fellow lefties. In September 2018, she started The Left Out Store, which makes everyday products ranging from left-handed writing tools, scissors, and kitchen tools, to quirky merchandise for left-handed people.

Maitri shared her ‘Left Out Store’ journey with the students. In spite of an extremely large ‘potential market’, (‘lefties’ estimated at between 10-12 percent of the population), and in spite of being the only store for lefties in India, the Left Out Store growth story has been sluggish with many challenges.

Maitri had a very interactive session with the students describing her challenges and had many discussions and conversations on possible ways to create awareness for her store and for her to play the role of an advocate for the ‘left’ cause!

The Left Out Store is now going strong as an online store. She plans to open the first physical store in Bengaluru. She regularly markets her products at exhibitions, and keeps The Left Out Store active on Instagram, Facebook, as well as on the official website.

On what keeps her motivated, Maitri says she believes in the ‘golden circle concept’ by author Simon Sinek, which is to answer WHY one’s organisation exists, HOW it achieves its objectives, and WHAT the organisation does. And why does The Left Out Store exist? Maitri confidently says, “To end the bias that exists against left-handed people and to make their lives a lot simpler.”
Prof. Abraham Karimpanal, faculty for Marketing at SJIM organized this talk.

The event took place on 15 July 2024

12 August 2024
Twenty-five students from both 1st and 2nd-year PGDM programs but part of the SJIM Catalyst Centre, accompanied by two faculty members from St Joseph's Institute of Management, Bangalore, had the unique privilege of participating in Catalyst Compass 2024. This prestigious event, organized by the Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation -TBI, at Narayana Health, marked a significant milestone as India's first hospital- based incubation center.

Catalyst Compass 2024 was not just another conference; it was an inspiring confluence of brilliant minds from the startup ecosystem, alongside esteemed doctors and researchers. The event offered our students an unparalleled opportunity to interact with industry leaders, gain insights from seasoned entrepreneurs, and understand the intersection of healthcare and innovation. The atmosphere was so welcoming and meticulously organized that we truly felt at home in a hospital setting.

Our deepest appreciation goes out to Dr.Paul C. Salins, Dr. SAMARTH SHETTY, Mr. Kiran Vuppala, Mr. Salai Jeyaseelan Annamalai, and their entire team for orchestrating such a flawless and enriching experience. Our students had the opportunity to listen to the living legends Dr. Devi Shetty, Mr Ashok Soota and a host of others.

One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to meet personally with Dr Paul C. Salins, a renowned and acclaimed authority in Cranio-Maxillofacial surgery, as well as a musician and painter. In his office, surrounded by a host of other distinguished doctors, Dr. Salins generously shared invaluable insights and encouraged our young and bright students to embrace challenges and pursue excellence in their respective fields.

This experience has left an indelible mark on our students, inspiring them to think beyond conventional boundaries and explore new avenues of innovation in healthcare, networking and management. We look forward to many more such opportunities that bridge academia with industry, fostering growth and learning. The SJIM team was lead by Fr Olvin Veigas SJ, the Director of SJIM Catalyst Centre and Mr Amar Bhattacharya, the Head and Co-ordinator of SJIM Catalyst Centre.

The event took place on August 12, 2024