IIT Bombay’s National Entrepreneurship Challenge Catalyzes E-Cell Empowerment Across India

IIT Bombay is fostering campus startup culture across the country through its National Entrepreneurship Challenge, aimed at empowering and strengthening student-led E-Cells.

IIT Bombay’s National Entrepreneurship Challenge

IIT Bombay: The Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) of IIT Bombay has concluded the latest edition of the National Entrepreneurship Challenge (NEC) is designed to foster entrepreneurship across college campuses. With a vision to build robust entrepreneurial ecosystems nationwide, NEC empowers student communities by guiding them in establishing and strengthening their Entrepreneurship Cells (E-Cells).

Through a series of well-structured tasks spanning key areas such as awareness building, ideation, club development, and societal impact, the challenge lays a strong foundation for cultivating a culture of innovation and enterprise in higher education institutions.

In the National Entrepreneurship Challenge (NEC) 2024–25 this year, the initiative witnessed an overwhelming response with over 4,500 registrations, reflecting its growing influence and relevance among students and institutions nationwide. More than 600 Entrepreneurship Cells (E-Cells) actively participated in the challenge, representing a diverse set of institutions spread across 1,000+ cities in India.

To date, NEC has facilitated the establishment of over 450 active E-Cells, many of which continue to thrive and inspire new ventures on their campuses. A key highlight of the program was the involvement of 200+ external mentors, including college professors and alumni from previously established E-Cells. Their guidance played a crucial role in elevating the quality of participation and ensuring a sustainable impact at the grassroots level.

The 2024–25 edition featured three distinct tracks tailored to meet participants at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey:

• Basic Track
• Advanced Track
• Mentor Track

“Entrepreneurship is not just about starting up – it’s about building a mindset,”. “Through NEC, we are decentralizing entrepreneurial education by enabling self-sustained E-Cells in every part of the country.”

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