IGNITE - EDP for Students

About

IGNITE Program – A Flagship Student Entrepreneurship Initiative by AIC-SKU

The IGNITE Program is the flagship student entrepreneurship development initiative of Atal Incubation Centre – Sri Krishnadevaraya University (AIC-SKU), Anantapur. Designed under AIC-SKU’s Academic Partnership Model, the program is tailored to empower students from various academic institutions with entrepreneurial skills, startup exposure, and hands-on training.

Each cohort of the IGNITE Program brings together students from five partnering colleges, creating a vibrant ecosystem of aspiring innovators from diverse academic backgrounds. The program is structured to nurture early-stage ideas and transform them into viable business models through a well-defined and immersive learning journey.

🔍 Program Highlights:

Screening & Selection: Students submit innovative ideas through a competitive selection process. From hundreds of applications, the top teams are shortlisted to form the cohort.

Orientation & Ecosystem Exposure: The program begins with an orientation session at AIC-SKU, providing students an introduction to the startup ecosystem and incubation support.

Motivational Outreach (Srujana Shibirs): Inspirational sessions and campus visits by AIC-SKU experts to ignite entrepreneurial spirit among students.

Workshops & Knowledge Sessions: Comprehensive training on entrepreneurship, idea validation, business model development, marketing, finance, and pitching skills.

Coaching & Mentoring: Expert guidance from national-level mentors and startup coaches throughout the program.

Startup Visits: Exposure visits to startups and incubators for real-world learning and ecosystem networking.

Final Pitch Day: Culminates in a Pitch Day Contest where student teams present their startup ideas to a jury panel of experts and investors.

🏆 Outcomes & Recognition:

The top-performing teams receive awards, mentorship, and incubation opportunities at AIC-SKU.

Many IGNITE alumni have gone on to develop working prototypes, secure funding, and launch their ventures.

The program plays a crucial role in fostering grassroots innovation and promoting rural entrepreneurship.

🎯 Program Objective:

IGNITE aims to:

Create awareness and interest in entrepreneurship among students.

Provide structured entrepreneurial training at the college level.

Build a pipeline of student-led startups for the regional innovation ecosystem.

Strengthen the capacity of academic institutions to support innovation and startup culture.

With every new cohort, IGNITE continues to serve as a launchpad for young innovators, reaffirming AIC-SKU’s commitment to nurturing a self-reliant, startup-driven Andhra Pradesh.

AIC SKU Participation

Students for EDP