A platform to support startups through a structured and personalized mentoring program

FLAME University, the pioneer of Liberal Education in India inaugurates the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to support high potential early stage startups through a structured and personalized mentoring program. FCEI (FLAME Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation) will be led by Mr. Darshan Doshi, who joins as the director of FCEI.

FLAME Origins Program, one of the initiatives under FCEI is an intense 5-month program which will set startups on a growth path.About 10-15 startups will be selected to participate in the equity-free no-cost FLAME Origins Program. Although the program participation is free of cost, FCEI requires entrepreneurs to work full time on their startups. The FCEI team will work closely with the participants to ensure that they can maximize value from the program. They will connect entrepreneurs to business mentors, subject matter experts, prospective customers and investors throughout the duration of the program.

The program will help selected entrepreneurs achieve traction, gain strategic and functional guidance, gain access to customers, partners, investors and to events and resources which will help them grow their businesses. The program comes with a plethora of benefits for the startup founders such as - access to world-class facilities including a co-working space, FLAME library resources, a pool of advisors, business traction and product workshops, cash flow management, developing and testing go-to-market strategy, fundraising and actionable next steps for growth.

Commenting on the inauguration, Mr. Darshan Doshi, Director of FCEI said, "Just as the African proverb, 'it takes a whole village to raise a child'. We believe it will take an 'Entrepreneurial Village' to raise successful startups. By launching the FCEI, we are building on our existing partnerships like Babson Collaborative (USA), to create a strong foundation for entrepreneurship at FLAME University. Each startup faces unique challenges in its early days and one of the biggest value add that anyone can do to help the entrepreneurs is to enable conversations with entrepreneurs or subject matter experts who have recently overcome similar challenges. With this in mind, the FLAME Origins Program is designed to enable entrepreneurs to receive feedback on their products from prospective customers as well as receive guidance from people with relevant experience. Our advisors bring experience, expertise and industry connect to help startups identify and solve problems and reach the next stage of growth. Furthermore, FCEI will organize startup competitions to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, students and corporations."

FCEI's advisors include Kuntal Shah, Partner, Oaklane Capital Management LLP; Amey Mashelkar, Head of Reliance JioGenNext; Prasanna Krishnamoorthy, Co-founder of Upekkha Accelerator; Sashi Chimala, a serial entrepreneur and EVP Wadhwani Foundation; Suhas Kadlaskar, Vice President Corporate Affairs & Human Resources at Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited, among others.

The startups for the program will be selected through a competitive model wherein prospective startups can submit an online application and shortlisted startups will go through two rounds of selection process. The applications are open and startups can apply by visiting - https://www.flame.edu.in/research/centres/centre-for-entrepreneurship-innovation/the-application-process

Effectuation Workshop on August 1 & 2, 2018 

The first workshop at FCEI will be conducted on effectuation on 1st and 2nd August, 2018 by Dr. Saras D. Sarasvathy, a leading scholar on the cognitive basis for high performance entrepreneurship. Saras is a Paul M. Hammaker Professor in Business Administration at University of Virginia - Darden School of Business as well as Jamuna Raghavan Chair Professor in Entrepreneurship, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. Entrepreneurs interested in learning how to grow their business can apply for the August 1st, 2018 workshop here: https://www.flame.edu.in/research/centres/centre-for-entrepreneurship-innovation/workshops/from-ideas-to-ventures-an-introduction-to-effectuation

The effectuation workshop on August 2nd, 2018 focuses on faculty development and it is suited for entrepreneurship educators, incubator and startup accelerator leaders. The application link for that is: https://www.flame.edu.in/research/centres/centre-for-entrepreneurship-innovation/workshops/faculty-development-program-from-ideas-to-ventures-an-introduction-to-effectuation

On the onset of the inauguration, Dr. Saras D. Sarasvathy said, "I have long advocated that we should be teaching entrepreneurship to everyone, just as we teach science to everyone. Especially if we want to build a society capable of shaping its own future. FLAME is taking an important step in that direction and I am happy to work with them to foster entrepreneurship education as well as help startups in the area do well."

Dr. Devi Singh, Vice-Chancellor, FLAME University added, "FLAME University aims to create societal upgradation through leadership. Launching the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is one more step in that direction. Giving entrepreneurs the knowledge and networking platform to take their startups to the next level with the support of partners, mentors and advisors with industry experience and expertise is what the Centre aims to do. FLAME Origins Program is just one of many programs that the Centre will conduct. We will also be conducting various workshops for the benefit of students, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators."

About FLAME University 

FLAME University has been created as an academic institution anchored in Liberal Education. Being the pioneer of Liberal Education in India, FLAME University delivers the country's premier interdisciplinary education experience. It exists to build an aspirational destination for students and faculty, to push the design and nature of studies and to create a societal upgradation phenomenon particularly in the fields of liberal education and leadership.

FLAME University is driven to being one of India's most respected and reputed centers of learning - the one destination of choice for higher education in the nation for learners and teachers.

Spread on 53 acres of green expanse, FLAME prepares students who have a strong desire to learn and grow continually, welcome new ideas, value diversity with desire to succeed and give their best towards excellence in all spheres of life. Its curriculum includes perspective building, skills and competencies for communication, problem-solving skills, creativity, innovation, teamwork and ethics that also meet the needs of the diverse sectors of the country. It currently consists of four schools: FLAME School of Liberal Education, FLAME School of Business, FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of Fine & Performing Arts.

With more than 90 full time faculty members, the university offers an unparalled education experience. The student - teacher ratio is 9:1, unmatched at the higher education level in India.

FLAME University has been established as a state private university vide the FLAME University Act 2014 (Maharashtra Act No. II of 2015) of the Government of Maharashtra. FLAME University is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f), and degrees awarded by the University are recognized under Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.