A five-day training program titled “Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Valuation” was successfully conducted at IIT Kanpur under the aegis of the Ministry of Education’s Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) initiative, which aims to foster academic and research collaborations across institutions. 

The workshop brought together leading academicians and practitioners from India and abroad. Foreign Investigators Dr. Shantanu Dutta and Dr. Mark Freel from the University of Ottawa joined Indian counterparts Dr. B V Phani (HoD, DoMS, IIT Kanpur) and Dr. Ramswarup Bhaskar (IIM Jammu) to deliver a series of insightful sessions. The event also featured contributions from social entrepreneur Ms. Premlata Poonia, Founder of Hamari Laado, Dr. Ramesh Kuruva and Dr. Sankalp Pratap (both from Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship IIT Bombay) and Prof. Suvendu Naskar (IIT Kanpur). 

Dr. Shantanu Dutta’s sessions, which provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurial finance, were a key highlight. He covered advanced topics such as relative valuation, cash flow forecasting and valuation, and short-term financial planning, equipping attendees with practical valuation tools. These sessions enabled participants to analyse funding sources, apply valuation models, and plan for financial sustainability in dynamic environments.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. B V Phani, HoD, DoMS, IIT Kanpur said, “Innovation-driven entrepreneurship is the future. By forstering global academic partnerships, we are committed to combining practical tools with purpose-led thinking, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers.”

Over the course of five days, participants explored a diverse array of topics, including design thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, social impact innovation, value creation, and value capturing. Interactive activities such as the spaghetti-marshmallow tower challenge, investment pitch simulations, and the wallet design exercise provided hands-on learning experiences. Ms. Poonia shared her inspiring entrepreneurial journey for empowering young girls through education and sports, combined with her innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement for resource pooling (including finance). 

The workshop culminated in a panel discussion titled “Innovating with Purpose: Entrepreneurship, Finance and Valuation in Action,” featuring all keynote speakers. The discussion emphasised the importance of purpose-driven innovation and the integration of financial acumen with social responsibility. 

Dr. Ramswarup Bhaskar, the event host, extended a heartfelt thanks to all participants, contributors and supporters, including the Syndicate Bank Entrepreneurship Research and Training Centre (SBERTC) and the team comprising Mr. R P Thapliyal, Utkarsh Yadav, Desh Shubham, Mridul, and others for facilitating the program.

The training program concluded on an inspiring note, with participants motivated to translate their insights into real-world impact and contribute to the evolving entrepreneurial landscape.