On 7th August 2025, the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Jaipuria Institute of Management, Ghaziabad hosted an insightful online expert session on “Accelerator/Incubation Opportunity for Students and Faculty” for first-year MBA students. The session aimed to equip participants with knowledge about the startup ecosystem and the opportunities available through incubators and accelerators to transform innovative ideas into successful ventures.
The resource person for the session was Mr. Rishabh Agarwal, a seasoned entrepreneur, startup mentor, and innovation ecosystem enabler with extensive experience in guiding early-stage ventures across India and abroad. The session was coordinated by Dr. Devi Archana Mohanty along with Dr. Smita Agarwal and Dr. Namita Nigam.
Session Highlights
The session began with a welcome address by Dr. Devi Archana Mohanty, who introduced Mr. Agarwal and emphasized the importance of understanding incubation and acceleration opportunities in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Mr. Agarwal explained the fundamental differences between business incubators and accelerators, noting that:
- Incubators primarily support early-stage ideas with infrastructure, mentoring, and seed funding.
- Accelerators assist growth-stage startups in scaling rapidly through structured programs, networking, and investment opportunities.
He presented real-life success stories of startups like Zomato and Zepto, highlighting their journeys from concept to market dominance. The session also explored the role faculty members can play as mentors, researchers, and even co-founders in entrepreneurial ventures.
Encouraging MBA students to see entrepreneurship as a viable career path, Mr. Agarwal urged them to use their time at business school to ideate, experiment, and build networks.
The interactive Q&A session allowed students to seek guidance on forming effective startup teams, overcoming early-stage challenges, and leveraging support from incubation centers. Mr. Agarwal also offered to mentor students interested in pursuing entrepreneurial projects.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session, students gained:
- A clear understanding of incubation and acceleration processes.
- Knowledge of resources available for early and growth-stage startups.
- Insights into real-world startup journeys and scaling strategies.
- Motivation to explore entrepreneurship during their MBA journey.
With 175 students in attendance, the session was well-received, inspiring many to take actionable steps toward their entrepreneurial ambitions.
