SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CHENNAI RAMAPURAM

Faculty of Science and Humanities

STARTUP, INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CELL

 

EVENT TITLE: Professional Development Training on Startup Payanam 1.0

DATE: 18 – 23 May 2026

DURATION: 08.30 AM – 12.30 PM

EVENT CONVENERS:

Mr. Karthick. K

Head (Startup, Innovation and Entrepreneurship), SRM group of Institutions, Ramapuram, Chennai.

Dr. G. Priya

Co-Ordinator (Startup, Innovation and  Entrepreneurship), Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, Chennai

VENUE: Gallery Hall, Fourth Floor, Block 5 (Central Library Block)

RESOURCE PERSON:

1. Mr. R. Sathishraj, CEO, E-Crusaders
2. Mr. Praveen Thiyagarajan, Co-Founder – CampusX Ventures
3. Ms. Kavyashree N, Associate Content Marketer, Findlaw

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE EVENT

The Startup Payanam 1.0 was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC), Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram Campus, in association with the R. Shivakumar Research and Innovation Foundation (Section 8 Startup Incubator of SRM Ramapuram) with the primary objective of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation among students. The programme aimed to provide participants with practical exposure to the startup ecosystem and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to transform innovative ideas into successful business ventures.

The event was designed to familiarize students with the fundamental principles of entrepreneurship, including opportunity recognition, problem identification, idea validation, customer discovery, and market analysis. It sought to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world business practices by bringing successful entrepreneurs and startup professionals to interact directly with students. The programme encouraged participants to think critically about societal and industrial challenges, identify unmet customer needs, and develop sustainable solutions through innovation and creativity.

Furthermore, the event aimed to cultivate entrepreneurial confidence, leadership qualities, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making skills among students. By exposing participants to real-life entrepreneurial experiences, startup challenges, and growth strategies, the programme intended to inspire students to pursue entrepreneurship as a career option and contribute to economic and social development through innovation-driven ventures.

SUMMARY OF THE EVENT

The Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC), Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram Campus, in collaboration with the R. Shivakumar Research and Innovation Foundation, successfully organized “Startup Payanam”, a comprehensive entrepreneurship awareness programme conducted on 21st and 22nd May 2026 at 8:30 AM. The programme brought together aspiring student entrepreneurs and industry experts to provide valuable insights into the various stages of startup creation and development.

The event commenced with an inspiring keynote session delivered by Mr. R. Sathishraj, CEO of E-Crusaders, who shared his entrepreneurial journey, experiences, and lessons learned while building and managing a successful business venture. Through real-world examples and practical insights, he emphasized the importance of perseverance, innovation, adaptability, and leadership in overcoming challenges faced by entrepreneurs. He discussed the significance of identifying opportunities, understanding market demands, and maintaining a growth-oriented mindset in today’s competitive business environment. His session motivated students to view challenges as opportunities for innovation and encouraged them to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions with confidence and determination.

The programme continued with a specialized session on Problem Validation conducted by Mr. Praveen Thiyagarajan, Co-Founder of CampusX Ventures. The session focused on one of the most critical aspects of startup success—identifying and validating genuine customer problems before developing solutions. The resource person explained various methods of conducting market research, collecting customer feedback, testing assumptions, and evaluating the feasibility of business ideas. Students learned about the importance of understanding customer pain points, validating market demand, and avoiding common startup mistakes resulting from inadequate market research. Through practical case studies and examples, participants gained valuable insights into how successful startups systematically validate problems before investing resources in product development.

The final session on Customer Discovery was delivered by Ms. Kavyashree N, Associate Content Marketer at Findlaw. The session highlighted the importance of understanding customer behavior, preferences, expectations, and purchasing decisions in developing successful products and services. The resource person introduced students to various customer discovery techniques, including interviews, surveys, observation methods, and market segmentation strategies. She emphasized the role of customer feedback in product improvement and business growth, explaining how customer-centric approaches help startups achieve product-market fit and long-term sustainability. The session also explored effective communication strategies, customer engagement practices, and methods for building lasting customer relationships.

Throughout the programme, participants actively engaged in discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and interactive activities that enhanced their understanding of entrepreneurship and startup development. The event provided students with an excellent platform to interact with experienced professionals, gain practical exposure to startup methodologies, and understand the realities of building and scaling innovative ventures. The programme successfully created awareness about entrepreneurship, innovation, business strategy, and startup incubation opportunities available for aspiring entrepreneurs.

 

SUCCESS STORY – PRESENTED BY STUDENT INNOVATORS

First sharing by Easwari Engineering College, Department of Biomedical Engineering, where Swetha Suresh, founder of Org & Aura – SANDI, identified the growing problem of improper sanitary pad and diaper disposal. Existing methods were unsafe, unhygienic, and harmful to the environment. To solve this issue, SANDI was developed as a smart, touch-free disposal system that provides on-site disinfection, odor control, and waste reduction without harmful incineration. Today, this innovation supports sustainable sanitation practices in schools, hospitals, offices, and public facilities while promoting menstrual dignity and safer working conditions for sanitation workers.

Second sharing by, CircleCare, was created by S.M. Vedhashree from the Department of B.Tech Biotechnology, Easwari Engineering College. The idea emerged from the need for faster and smarter emergency response systems. Unlike traditional safety applications that continuously monitor users, CircleCare activates only during critical situations. This event-driven technology reduces false alerts, saves battery life, and ensures timely emergency support when it matters most. Through this startup, the team aims to make safety technology more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly.

Third sharing by, Zythea, was developed by Kajal Yadav from SRMIST FSH, Department of B. Sc Biotechnology. Recognizing the need for accessible and affordable healthcare diagnostics, the team designed a compact blood analyser kit capable of detecting blood group, glucose level, and haemoglobin concentration using a small blood sample. Zythea provides quick and accurate results, supporting early diagnosis of conditions like diabetes and anaemia while also assisting during medical emergencies. The innovation focuses on making healthcare diagnostics simple, cost-effective, and accessible for all.

These projects began as ideas discussed inside classrooms and laboratories, but through innovation, research, and persistence, they evolved into meaningful solutions with real social impact. Our journey taught us that innovation is not just about creating technology — it is about understanding real-world problems and developing solutions that improve lives.

 

OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM

The Startup Payanam programme successfully enhanced students’ understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation, startup ecosystems, and business development processes. Participants gained valuable knowledge about the entrepreneurial journey, from idea conception and opportunity recognition to market validation and customer acquisition. The sessions provided practical insights into how successful entrepreneurs identify problems, develop innovative solutions, validate business concepts, and build sustainable business models.

Students developed a deeper appreciation for the importance of problem validation, learning how systematic market research and customer feedback can significantly improve the chances of startup success. They gained an understanding of various techniques used to evaluate business ideas, assess market demand, and minimize risks associated with launching new ventures. The programme also strengthened their awareness of the importance of data-driven decision-making and evidence-based entrepreneurship.

The customer discovery session enabled participants to understand the significance of customer-centric innovation and market-oriented product development. Students learned how to identify target customer segments, analyze customer needs and behaviors, gather meaningful feedback, and utilize customer insights to improve products and services. This knowledge enhanced their ability to design solutions that effectively address real-world challenges and create value for end users.

The interaction with accomplished entrepreneurs and startup professionals inspired students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset characterized by creativity, resilience, adaptability, leadership, and continuous learning. The programme improved participants’ confidence in exploring entrepreneurship as a career option and encouraged them to actively participate in innovation-driven activities, startup competitions, incubation programmes, and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Additionally, the event enhanced students’ communication skills, critical thinking abilities, strategic planning capabilities, and problem-solving competencies. Participants gained exposure to contemporary startup trends, business opportunities, and innovation ecosystems, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding future entrepreneurial endeavors. The programme also fostered networking opportunities between students and industry professionals, creating pathways for mentorship, collaboration, internships, and startup support.

Overall, Startup Payanam served as a transformative learning experience that strengthened entrepreneurial awareness, encouraged innovation, promoted practical business knowledge, and prepared students to contribute effectively to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The programme successfully motivated participants to become proactive innovators, capable of identifying opportunities, solving societal challenges, and creating sustainable ventures that generate economic and social impact.