Rajasthan Govt Partners With Thapar Entrepreneurs Academy To Boost Startup Ecosystem

The Rajasthan government’s IT and communication department has partnered with the Thapar  Entrepreneurs Academy (TEA) to launch iStart Launchpad Programme and Learning Management System (LMS) to promote entrepreneurship in the state.

The collaboration is part of the iStart School and Rural programme. iStart is the Rajasthan government’s flagship initiative to drive entrepreneurial spirit in the state and promote startups.

The iStart Launchpad Programme aims to train mentors of the iStart accelerator programme to nurture the startup ecosystem of Rajasthan further. 

Meanwhile, the LMS is a digital platform that will serve as a comprehensive educational resource to guide students about entrepreneurship. It will be leveraged by educational institutions to manage and deliver learning materials. It will empower the students by offering them essential resources to nurture creativity and support entrepreneurial endeavours. 

The launch event will take place on today (August 24). Namita Thapar, executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, will launch the iStart Launchpad Programme and the LMS. The event will also be attended by the Rajasthan state commissioner and secretary, startup founders, school principals and college directors. 

The launch day will entail programmes like a fireside chat, insightful discussions, an engaging Q&A session, a mentor training session, a press conference, a demo day and a networking dinner. 

Key Highlights Of The Event

Training Session: The event will commence with a briefing about the iStart programme with a focus on conveying its mission. This will be followed by a joint training session held by the TEA and iStart for mentors and coordinators who will be providing training to early-stage founders.

The training session will include subjects like launchpad operations, effective mentorship, LMS utilisation, how to monitor students and nurture school entrepreneurship. 

The training session aims to enable the launchpad coordinators and mentors to guide and lead aspiring entrepreneurs in their journeys. The session will conclude with a group activity. 

Keynote Speaker Address: Chief guest Thapar will provide key insights from her entrepreneurial journey to the attendees. There will also be a discussion wherein other dignitaries will discuss the significance of fostering Rajasthan as an entrepreneurship hub. Thapar and dignitaries will inaugurate the iStart x TEA LMS portal. There will also be an interactive session between the chief guest and startup founders to discuss emerging trends and opportunities in the startup ecosystem. 

Fireside Chat Session: In a fireside chat session, Thapar will explore the topic of “Nurturing Young Entrepreneurs For An Innovative Rajasthan”. This will also give the attendees an opportunity to ask questions to Thapar.

Demo Event: Five startups from rural areas of Rajasthan will get an opportunity to pitch their business models to Thapar and other startup leaders and government dignitaries.

 Networking Dinner: The event will present a networking opportunity for budding and fledgling startup founders. They will foster connections and collaborate with fellow attendees, including iStart dignitaries and leaders from the startup ecosystem.

The Rajasthan government has been at the forefront of the state’s digitalisation since the word startup began gaining momentum in its early years. The government’s efforts have resulted in the state being home to nearly 3,500 startups which have created about 25,650 jobs. These startups have reportedly received a total investment of INR 492 Cr.