The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), organised a workshop titled “Raising Capital and Managing Finance for Startups” under the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC 7.0) on April 29, 2025, at 11:00 am. The event was held at the Livelihood Business Incubator (LBI) of the CIE and witnessed enthusiastic participation from budding entrepreneurs and startup founders of the university.
IIC 7.0 is conducted as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, aimed at fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in higher educational institutions across India.
The distinguished speaker for the session was Prof. Wolfgang Rams, Entrepreneurship expert at the European Institute of Management, Germany; Co-Founder & CEO, Africa GreenTec AG; and a renowned Startup Coach.
Prof. Rams shared valuable insights on the essential qualities of successful entrepreneurs and the importance of sound financial management in startup growth. His interactive mentoring session allowed participants to engage directly and pose relevant questions related to capital raising and financial planning. The attendees expressed great satisfaction with the answers and solutions provided.
During the session, Prof. Rams also elaborated on problem-solving strategies and decision-making frameworks crucial for startup success in dynamic market environments.
In addition to the workshop, an assessment of bakery products prepared by the students enrolled in the Basics of Bakery course was conducted. The bakery items, crafted with creativity and skill by the students, were evaluated for their quality, presentation, taste, and innovation. This activity aimed to encourage entrepreneurial skills and culinary excellence among the students, further highlighting the Centre’s commitment to fostering diverse entrepreneurial capabilities.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Rihan Khan Suri, who appreciated the presence of the guest speaker and assured continued support from CIE for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to nurturing student-led startups and equipping them with the necessary tools and guidance to scale effectively.
Notable attendees at the workshop included founders and co-founders of emerging startups such as KrishiGro, Inner Vista 360, Klinickart, Mindhail, Enord, Space Era, among others.
The event was graced by Prof. Naseeb Ahamad, Convener, IIC 7.0; Prof. Nisar Khan, Start-up Coordinator, IIC 7.0; and the Coordinator Innovations, IIC 7.0, who played a pivotal role in organising the workshop.
The event marked yet another successful initiative under the IIC framework, reinforcing Jamia Millia Islamia’s dedication to cultivating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. Those who participated in the event were all praise for such initiatives at a time when many youngsters are taking entrepreneurial plunge.
Students said such workshops are very helpful in understanding the skills to start start-ups and also getting first-hand knowledge about how many youngsters are successfully running their start-ups over a period of time. The biggest challenge for youngsters or any person to start business is how to raise capital, said a local businessman, adding that the good thing about Jamia is that the university ha s a centre which is involve in fostering diverse entrepreneurial capabilities among youngsters, a welcome initiative indeed. Over the years, many Jamia alumni and students have succeeded in their startup projects.
