The Surya Sen College in Siliguri conducted an Entrepreneurship Awareness Drive (EAD) in association with the entrepreneurship cell (E-Cell) of IIT Kharagpur here on Wednesday.

The programme, college sources said, was aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students and providing valuable insights into the world of startups and leadership.

Arnab Baul, teacher-in-charge of the college, said the EAD 2024 was an important event that brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, industry leaders and startup enthusiasts from across north Bengal.

“The drive featured keynote speeches, panel discussions and interactive sessions with over 600 participants. It was designed to encourage students to think innovatively and take steps toward establishing their ventures,” said Baul.

The event, which was organised at Dinabandhu Mancha of the city, also served as a dynamic platform for students to explore opportunities, develop networks with successful entrepreneurs, and gain inspiration for pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, he said.

“A primary focus of the event was to promote the role of entrepreneurship in today’s global economy. Students had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with alumni entrepreneurs, startup founders, and experts, who shared their experiences and insights on how to navigate the challenges of building a business from the ground up,” added the teacher-in-charge.

Himangshu Baruah, the founder and CEO of Finderbridge Tourism who was present at the event, pointed out that the Northeast is a “treasure trove” of tourism and aspiring entrepreneurs could venture into the sector.

Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb was present at the event.

The programme highlighted different opportunities for participants, including internships with leading companies and startups.

“The students were introduced to internship opportunities with some of India's top startups and innovative firms. Participants were offered exclusive access to the Structured Learning Program (SLP) which is typically reserved for students of IIT Kharagpur,” said a source.