“Entrepreneurs at educational institutions”

As a vocational training support, many colleges at Chennai are offering Entrepreneurial training and business ventures to their students. More than 60% of these budding prodigies go on to become successful entrepreneurs

Deeptha Sreedhar

A popular meme goes around in the Social networking site as follows: “In India, everyone first becomes an Engineer. Only after that people decide what to pursue in life!” The joke is actually the harsh reality in today’s world. One might have chosen their major stream of study and have discovered sudden passion towards something in contrast. What if that new found passion is business?

Encouraging the new and successful breed of student entrepreneurs, most colleges in the city are offering professional entrepreneurial training and attention through ‘Entrepreneurial Development cells’. From Mark Zuckerberg to Bill Gates, geniuses have carved a niche whilst still at college. Instead of waiting till graduation and spending few more months trying to do a SWOT analysis by trial and error methods, these young business minds are given ample freedom to explore the stalls of their college fests to get some hands on experience in business. 

If you thought just providing some space and electric sockets makes one an entrepreneur, then you are wrong! Colleges offer much more than this. From analysing the idea from scratch to giving suggestions on the product/service launch to even promoting them, the ED cells of these colleges offer more.

What is more surprising with this concept is that it is more popular at women’s colleges than elsewhere. To quote my friend Tanvi, a student entrepreneur: “It is not the gender but the idea that sells!” 

The acquaintances one makes as a student helps them in building the business to a good shape after college. Moreover, the option of part-time business allows women to lead a balanced personal and professional life. Such ideas help in diversification of business ventures and promote self-made businesses. 

Ventures such as Tohfa, Paduka, Scan on Wheels from city colleges have gone on to become viral business hits in the recent times. Ideas are fresh, so is their energy! The next time you search for a college to your dear ones, ensure that an ED cell is functional in it!