Hyderabad: Ankuram Business Innovators Program for Grade 11 and the Ankuram Entrepreneurial Mindsets Program for Grade 9 for the academic year 2024-25 was launched at the Ankuram Launch and Showcase 2024 at T-hub, Hyderabad. The program will foster entrepreneurial mindsets and develop 21st century skills in Grade 11 and Grade 9 students across 409 schools in Telangana’s 33 districts.
The event also highlighted the success of last year’s program, which engaged over 2,800 students from 35 schools. The top 20 business ideas from Grade 11 participants were showcased, with 995 students receiving seed money from Samagra Shiksha Telangana. Organized by Samagra Shiksha Telangana in partnership with Udhyam Learning Foundation, Inquilab Foundation, Y-Hub, and OakNorth, the event drew more than 200 attendees.
Mekin Mahenshwari, CEO & founder of Udhyam Learning Foundation, was excited about the launch and said, “What started as a pilot across 35 Govt schools in Telangana is now poised to scale up across 409 schools spread across all 33 districts, touching nearly 50,000 students of Classes 9 and 11. We believe that transformation cannot happen in silos. By combining Udhyams rich experience in Entrepreneurial Mindset building across India, with Inquilabs strong understanding of the Telangana context and overlaying this with Y-Hub’s connect with the Telangana Innovation and Startup ecosystem we’re creating a model where the school system converges with the Startup and Business ecosystem, equipping students with the core mindsets and competencies to thrive in the ‘everyday changing world’ that they will transition into. Schools represent the roots of change, and our grassroots approach ensures that the seeds of entrepreneurial mindsets are sown early, leading to longer term sustainable change.”
Apoorva from Y-Hub, India’s first youth and adolescent focused innovation centre, said “We as Y-Hub, has always emphasized on the holistic development of our students, ensuring they are equipped with 21st century skills. We remain committed to providing the resources and support necessary for students to stay relevant and lead the race in this ever-evolving world.“
Vivek Piddempally. Co-Founder, Inqui-lab said, “We are proud to associate with Anukuram, an initiative that empowers our students by nurturing their entrepreneurial potential. Together, with Udhyam Learning, Samagra shiksha and Inqui-lab foundation we intend to make a lasting difference in the lives of our young entrepreneurs.”
Tara Chand, Head of CSR at OakNorth, which supported the pilot and will be supporting Ankuram said, “At OakNorth, we’re committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among young minds. The success of last year’s program, engaging over 2,800 students and providing seed funding to nearly 1,000 budding entrepreneurs, showcases the immense potential amongst young people. By supporting initiatives like this, we’re not just investing in ideas; we’re investing in the future leaders and innovators who will shape our economy and society. We’re proud to be part of this collaborative effort that’s creating real opportunities for students to turn their visions into reality.”
The launch of this program marked a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to foster a culture of entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans to expand the program to 409 schools and have a wider impact. Our goal is to engage more students, offer valuable learning opportunities, and build a robust support network to help these young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. At OakNorth, we are proud to lead this collaborative initiative.
