These LSE alumni have designed the perfect programme to launch your start-up idea

If you opt for the Startupreneur Venturer Program, you will have access to mentors from the best institutions and masterclasses delivered by the who's who of the field. This is all that it entails
Aakarsh and Adhikar | (Pic: The Startupreneur)
Aakarsh and Adhikar | (Pic: The Startupreneur)

When someone with the experience of being Head of Startup Incubation and Strategic Initiatives at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore for three years, namely Aakarsh Naidu, and another, who has handled Hedge Fund and Private Equity at Goldman Sachs for two years, namely Adhikar Naidu, come together to start a programme, you got to check it out. Such was our curiosity with Startupreneur Venturer Program. It’s what they call a "global entrepreneurship experience programme" offered by their start-up The Startupreneur.

Yes, Aakarsh and Adhikar are brothers and alumnus of the London School of Economics. When they realised their skills complement each other and their experience is quite sturdy, they decided to launch The Startupreneur in 2019. After gaining backing from their alma mater, UK Department for International Trade (UK-DIT), London & Partners and IIT Madras, they shifted their base from Bengaluru to London and their first offering was the Startupreneur Venturer Program, for students, teachers, freelancers and beyond.

Class of 2020 | (Pic: The Startupreneur)

It is while delivering a guest lecture at Christ University that they realised that the young might be brimming with ideas but they don't necessarily know how to take it forward. "The will to help unlock their dreams and potential kept pushing us," says Adhikar. The first cohort was sponsored by them entirely and included innovators from Tier II and Tier III cities. The second cohort saw them going international. And the ideas were astounding. Imagine an AI-based companion to fight loneliness from Bengaluru, using VR in tourism from Bhutan and making the best of Blockchain and IoT in fields like Agriculture and Healthcare from Mangaluru and Kenya. Thus, their third cohort starts on January 23 and is a four-weekend virtual programme. "The entire experience from generating an idea to pitching it for funds is delivered," says Aakarsh.

Self-paced programmes offer modules like market research, build your own business model and through it all, they are guided by a mentor. These modules are not longer than 20 minutes. Then follows the live masterclasses, the most exciting aspects of the course. These are delivered by academicians from the crème de la crème institutions of the world. Since these are live, the guest also comes into the breakout rooms on Zoom to interact with the participants. And at the end of it all, you get more than just a certification. "You will walk away with a solid business plan," says Aakarsh. Further support in terms of network and connections is also extended.

At LSE | (Pic: The Startupreneur)

One of their participants, Aishwarya from Telangana has been selected for the National innovation Challenge and is now incubated at i2E Lab: Innovation to Entrepreneurship Lab. Similarly, another participant from Bhutan is supported by a foundation. And that's how you do it, folks!

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