Best Entrepreneurship award 2022: IIT Mandi incubated startup wins 3rd prize

A total of six best-commercialized startups were awarded for converting their ideas into best-commercialized startups for the year 2019-20 and 2020-21.

A startup of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Intiot Services PVT LTD won 3rd prize for Best Entrepreneurship award 2022, under Chief Minister's Startup, Innovation Project, and New Industries Scheme. The award was given by Bikram Singh, Minister of Industries, Transport, Labor, and Employment Minister, Himachal Pradesh in the presence of Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, IAS, Director – Industries, Himachal Pradesh.

The first student-faculty-led startup of IIT Mandi is led by four Directors, including Professor Varun Dutt, Associate Professor, IIT Mandi;  Professor KV Uday, Associate Profesor, IIT Mandi; Praveen Kumar, PhD Candidate, IIT Mandi; and, Ankush Pathania, Senior Associate, IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation. The startup is also guided in its business strategy by Aveg Agarwal, Senior Advisor, Intiot Services, PVT LTD.

A total of six best-commercialized startups were awarded for converting their ideas into best-commercialized startups for the year 2019-20 and 2020-21. Intiot's landslide monitoring system (LMS) was awarded 3rd amongst the top startups initiated in 2019-20. The LMS is the solution for the landslide threats in the hilly terrain. The Intiot team has deployed around 40 LMS systems in the Himalayas to alert and save people's lives by early warnings in places susceptible to landslides. The Industries Department in Shimla organized the Annual Entrepreneurship Awards function, and founders of brilliant startups were awarded under Chief Minister's Startup, Innovation Project, and New Industries Scheme. The dignitaries also took time to understand the glitches and requirements of various startups in the venue.

While sharing his experience Professor K V Uday, Director, Intiot Services PVT LTD said, "Intiot Services Pvt Ltd., took charge of commercializing the technique developed at IIT Mandi and reaching to the administration for saving lives of people in Landslides circumstances. We are currently showing adequate success in averting landslide disasters in different parts of Himachal Pradesh."

Professor Varun Dutt, Director, Intiot Services PVT LTD said, "We thank HP Centre for Entrepreneurship Development for the support received for the startup to set and grow to its level. This support will help the state and its people be warned early about landslide disasters."

Speaking about the Startup ecosystem, Bikram Singh, Industry Minister, Himachal Pradesh Government, said, "The industries department should work more swiftly towards making the Startup policy more effective. Startups face several challenges after establishing themselves at various stages. Marketing their products and their servicing should be included in the new scheme."

Further, Singh added, "The government of Himachal Pradesh is providing several schemes favorable to young entrepreneurs such as Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojana where the youth of Himachal can explore their potential in creating jobs rather than searching for employment. Entrepreneurs play an important role in the state's economy, and the government provides them with all beneficial facilities for setting up innovative enterprises."

Director Industries Rakesh Prajapati and Special Secretary Industries Kiran Bhadana assured that the department would continue to work as per the expectations of the state government and entrepreneurs to provide better facilities. A new and effective policy is to roll out soon, providing facilities and supporting the startup business of Himachal Pradesh. In addition, various commercialized startups shared their experiences and success stories.

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