Catalyst/Incubation Awareness Drive Week at SJIM


St Joseph's Institute of Management (SJIM), Bangalore, recently hosted a dynamic and informative Catalyst/Incubation Awareness Drive Week. This initiative, spearheaded by the SJIM Catalyst Centre, aimed to inspire and equip both first-year and second-year PGDM students with the knowledge and resources to embark on entrepreneurial ventures.

Highlights of the Event
The awareness drive was structured to provide maximum engagement and benefit to the students. Talks were organized section-wise, ensuring that every student had the opportunity to participate and gain insights. Dr. Nirmala Joseph, the Associate Professor at SJIM delivered a compelling presentation on the SJIM Incubation Centre. She highlighted the unique advantages that business school students possess in starting new ventures, emphasizing how they can create wealth for themselves and contribute to the nation's economy.

Fr. Olvin Veigas, SJ Director of the SJIM Catalyst Centre, shared his vision for the centre and its pivotal role in fostering a startup culture within the institute. Mr. Amar Bhattacharya, Head of the Catalyst Centre, provided insights into the practical aspects of starting and sustaining a business. Dr. Leo Deepak, Mentor at Catalyst, offered valuable mentorship advice and shared success stories to motivate the budding entrepreneurs. Mr Jeno, the faculty members and student volunteers played a crucial role in facilitating the event, ensuring its smooth execution and high level of engagement.

Student Participation and Future Plans
A key component of the awareness drive was data collection from students who are already at the ideation stage, own businesses, or are part of family-owned businesses. This information will help the Catalyst Centre tailor its future initiatives to better support these budding entrepreneurs.

Looking ahead, SJIM plans to implement a series of targeted programs to build on the momentum generated by the awareness drive. These initiatives aim to provide continuous support and resources to students, helping them to transform their innovative ideas into successful business ventures.

The event took place: 16, 17, 18, and 19 July 2024