Entrepreneurship at IIT Bombay: Incubates service-based startup

IIT Bombay graduates have founded websites like Ola Cabs, Flipkart and Housing.com but at their time the institute’s Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) used to focus on just product based startups. The service-based startups or consumer-based startups were not entertained. However, recently, SINE has changed its selection criteria – incubating Purple Squirrel (which intends to be the next Makemytrip for students and colleges looking forward to industry visits).

Several other such startups are in the pre-incubation state at SINE – taking advantages of its strong technology and IP. The shift means that many more IIT-B students can experiment with entrepreneurship with more confidence.

Thanks to the million dollar donation from its alumnus Bharat Desai, IIT Bombay has recently started a new programme in ‘Entrepreneurship’ too which leads to a minor degree. Other alumni are supporting the programme, such as Rajen Jaswa who comes to the institute every semester to teach at the programme and also connects the class to other entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley.

“Jaswa’s initiative allows students to interact directly with established entrepreneurs in different fields and bounce of any startup ideas they may have”, says Prof. Milind Atrey, IIT-B representative on the SINE board.

IIT-B hostels are abuzz with startup activities these days too.  The startup ecosystem of IIT Bombay has certainly become quite robust in the last few years – and we hope that it will soon rival Silicon Valley model.