TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

Vel Tech High Tech Dr. Rangarajan Dr. Sakunthala Engineering College is committed to creating an enabling ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship and startup development. The Startup Policy provides a structured framework to identify, nurture, mentor, incubate and support innovative ideas and entrepreneurial ventures emerging from the Institution.

The policy promotes a culture in which students and faculty members are encouraged to convert ideas into prototypes, intellectual property, products, services and sustainable enterprises. The policy also facilitates collaboration with industry, government agencies, MSMEs, incubators, investors, mentors and other ecosystem partners.

2. VISION

To establish a vibrant institutional ecosystem that transforms innovative ideas into socially relevant, technology-driven and sustainable startups, while nurturing entrepreneurial talent among students and faculty.

3. MISSION

• To promote innovation, creativity and problem-solving among students and faculty.
• To provide structured pre-incubation, incubation, mentoring and technical support.
• To encourage participation in hackathons, innovation challenges, startup programmes and entrepreneurship development activities.
• To facilitate access to laboratories, expertise, industry networks, funding opportunities and incubation support.
• To promote collaboration with MSMEs, industries, government departments, incubators, investors and startup ecosystem partners.

4. OBJECTIVES

• Create awareness about entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property and startup opportunities.
• Develop an institutional pipeline from idea identification to prototype development and venture creation.
• Support student and faculty entrepreneurs through mentoring, incubation and networking.
• Promote technology-based, socially relevant and sustainable innovations.
• Facilitate participation in MSME Idea Hackathon and other national/state-level innovation programmes.
• Encourage commercialization of research, prototypes and intellectual property.
• Track and document measurable outcomes such as startups, patents, prototypes, funding, revenue and employment generation.

5. SCOPE

This policy applies to all students, faculty members, researchers, staff, alumni and eligible institutional stakeholders participating in innovation, entrepreneurship, incubation and startup-related activities conducted or supported by the Institution.

6. DEFINITIONS

7. POLICY STATEMENTS

• The Institution shall maintain an active Startup & Entrepreneurship Cell and/or equivalent institutional mechanism.
• Students and faculty shall be encouraged to propose innovative ideas and participate in ideation, design thinking, hackathons and entrepreneurship programmes.
• Eligible ideas may be evaluated for pre-incubation, incubation, mentoring and other support based on institutional procedures.
• The Institution may facilitate access to laboratories, workshops, technical facilities and other resources, subject to availability and institutional regulations.
• The Institution shall promote intellectual property protection and responsible commercialization of innovations.
• The Institution shall encourage collaboration with MSMEs, industries, incubators, investors, government agencies and ecosystem partners.
• Funding support, where available, shall be provided subject to approved schemes, eligibility criteria and applicable rules.
• All startup activities shall be documented through registers, reports, photographs, attendance, outcomes and supporting evidence.

8. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

9. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

9.1 Principal / Institutional Leadership

• Approve and provide strategic direction for the Startup Policy.
• Facilitate institutional resources and partnerships.
• Review the progress and outcomes of startup and entrepreneurship initiatives.

9.2 Startup & Entrepreneurship Cell

• Prepare annual action plans.
• Conduct awareness, ideation, mentoring and entrepreneurship programmes.
• Maintain records, reports and outcome data.
• Coordinate with internal and external ecosystem partners.

9.3 MSME Business Incubator

• Provide structured incubation and pre-incubation support.
• Support idea validation, prototype development and venture readiness.
• Facilitate access to mentors, experts, schemes and networks.

9.4 Faculty Mentors

• Guide innovators and entrepreneurs in technical and business aspects.
• Support project development, documentation and problem-solving.
• Encourage student participation in innovation activities.

9.5 Student / Faculty Innovators

• Maintain integrity and confidentiality of innovation-related information.
• Participate actively in mentoring and review activities.
• Comply with institutional rules, IP procedures and applicable laws.

10. STARTUP DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

1. Awareness & Outreach
2. Ideation & Problem Identification
3. Idea Screening & Validation
4. Pre-Incubation & Mentoring
5. Prototype / MVP Development
6. Business Model & Market Validation
7. Incubation & Venture Development
8. Funding / Investment Readiness
9. Launch, Scale-up & Impact Tracking

11. IDEA SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION PROCESS

• Ideas may be submitted through institutional calls, hackathons, competitions, department activities or direct submission to the Startup & Entrepreneurship Cell.
• Ideas shall be screened based on novelty, feasibility, problem relevance, technical potential, market/social impact and scalability.
• Selected ideas may be referred for mentoring, pre-incubation or incubation support.
• Progress shall be reviewed periodically through presentations, milestone reviews and mentor feedback.

12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Intellectual property generated through institutional resources, sponsored projects, collaborative research or other institutional support shall be handled in accordance with applicable institutional IP policy, agreements and prevailing laws. Ownership, inventorship, confidentiality, publication and commercialization shall be determined on a case-by-case basis through appropriate institutional procedures.

13. FUNDING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• The Institution may facilitate access to government schemes, grants, competitions, seed support, CSR support, investors and other legitimate funding sources.
• Any financial support provided by the Institution shall be subject to approved budgetary provisions and applicable financial rules.
• Entrepreneurs shall be guided in preparing proposals, pitch decks, business plans and funding applications.

14. ETHICS, CONFIDENTIALITY AND RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION

• All participants shall maintain professional integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Innovations shall comply with applicable legal, ethical, safety and environmental requirements.
• The Institution shall promote inclusive, sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship.

15. MONITORING AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

16. SDG MAPPING

• SDG 4 – Quality Education: Entrepreneurship education, innovation learning and skill development.
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Startup creation, employment and entrepreneurship.
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Technology development, incubation and industry collaboration.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Sustainable products, processes and business models.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Climate technology, renewable energy and environmental innovations.
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Collaboration with industries, MSMEs, government and ecosystem partners.

17. ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS

This policy is designed to support the objectives of higher education quality, innovation and entrepreneurship promotion and may be implemented in alignment with applicable guidelines and frameworks of AICTE, UGC, NBA, NAAC, Startup India, Ministry of MSME and other competent authorities, as amended from time to time.

18. IMPLEMENTATION FLOW

Awareness → Idea Submission → Screening → Mentoring → Pre-Incubation → Prototype Development → Validation → Incubation → Funding / Market Linkage → Startup / Venture Growth → Impact Tracking

19. REVIEW AND AMENDMENT

This policy shall be reviewed periodically, preferably once every three years or earlier when required due to changes in institutional priorities, government regulations, statutory guidelines or the startup ecosystem. Amendments shall be placed before the competent institutional authority for approval.

20. ANNEXURES

• Annexure I – Startup / Idea Submission Form
• Annexure II – Idea Evaluation and Screening Form
• Annexure III – Mentor Allocation Form
• Annexure IV – Incubation Progress Review Form
• Annexure V – Startup Activity Register Format
• Annexure VI – Annual Startup and Entrepreneurship Outcome Report

SIGNATURE AND APPROVAL

This Startup Policy is approved for implementation by the competent authority of the Institution.