ISB's new initiative 'Start Up First' aimed at entrepreneurial role

MUMBAI: In a bid to give students a first-hand experience of entrepreneuring, the Wadhwani Centre for Entrepreneurial Development at the ISB is working on an initiative called "Start Up First". The new initiative is designed to help students who aspire to become entrepreneurs to get into an 'entrepreneurial role' and get a first-hand experience of entrepreneuring.

The initiative - which has taken shape after more than year-long discussions with students at ISB, alumni entrepreneurs and the external entrepreneurial community - also ensures that start-up entrepreneurs have access to the right kind of talent that will help them to grow their ventures faster.

"The initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among ISB and non-ISB people in all sectors," said Krishna Tanuku, executive director, Wadhwani Centre for Entrepreneurial Development at the ISB. The initiative will enable the students to learn finer nuances of start-ups, better prepare entrepreneurs to gain needed operational management skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem, he said.

Through this initiative, the institute aims to play a role in nurturing the growth of new and emerging businesses and encourage and nurture entrepreneurial ambitions of its students.

Over the past 11 years, more than 200 of ISB alumni have turned entrepreneurs, post the ISB and are running successful ventures. Earlier, the Entrepreneurship Development Imitative (EDI) at the ISB has been instrumental in incubating and mentoring some very successful ventures since its inception about three years ago.