Startup Odisha to Organize Start-Up Mela 2023 for Students, Stakeholders

Bhubaneswar: Startup Odisha is organizing Start-up Mela 2023 to showcase the prowess of Startup Ecosystem of the State and orient youth toward Startups, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The two-day fest will be held at O-Hub, the incubation center in Bhubaneswar from January 15, as per reports.

Besides students and budding entrepreneurs, other stakeholders of the start-up ecosystem like industry leaders, incubators, academicians, policymakers, investors and more have been invited.

The two-day event will be hosting interactive activities for students’ engagement and to help them understand the ecosystem better.
In a unique endeavor probably for the first time in the country, Startup Odisha in its attempt to directly reach out to the students across campuses, and in its bid to be pervasive throughout educational institutions, universities, colleges, B-schools, etc., has identified some bright students as Campus Ambassadors who apart from being prospective startups would also add value to the Startup Ecosystem of Odisha by inspiring, sensitizing, and orienting their peers to be part of startups and encourage them for entrepreneurship. Thus, Campus Ambassadors would act as a bridge between their respective academic institutions and Startup Odisha. These Campus Ambassadors would be felicitated in Mela and would be encouraged to come up with new and sparkling ideas in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Further, one of the major attractions of the Fest would be “Ask Subroto Bagchi”— a program where Shri Subroto Bagchi, Chairman Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA), a renowned business leader and entrepreneur, would interact with students and share insights and give mantra to young entrepreneurs and students.

Also, for the first time, Startup Odisha is bringing successful Industry leaders of Odisha to connect them directly with students and Startups so that they can become part of the Startup ecosystem and contribute to it. Industry leaders from Ruchi Foodline, Falcon Marine Exports Limited, Ovo Farm, and Z Estates Pvt Ltd will participate in the two-day fest.

An Exhibition of various startups across Industries and sectors would attract the audience and give them an opportunity to see these Startups from close quarters and interact with the entrepreneurs, a Hackathon for students would going to be a real brainstorming and learning session, experience sharing by various Startups would also be an enriching session, Roundtable Discussion with Incubators, Master class on Legal & IP compliances would help budding startup entrepreneurs understand the nuances and intricacies pertaining to Intellectual Property Rights, Patents and other Legal frameworks. Further, a Startup Quiz for students would be fascinating and mind-blowing, a panel discussion with Investors, and a Startup pitching session would mark Day 1.

While Reverse Pitching session with Incubators would help budding startup entrepreneurs know about Incubation support and handholding, a Panel discussion with Government Departments, a Master class on Branding & Marketing, a Debate competition for students, Leadership Talk by Industry leaders, Awards and Felicitation including felicitation of campus Ambassadors, are the host of events spanning the Day 2 i.e., January 16th, 2023.