• IIM
Sambalpur Hosts Business Accelerator Programme for SC-ST Entrepreneurs
• IIM
Sambalpur Empowers SC-ST Entrepreneurs through Business Accelerator Program
• IIM
Sambalpur Promotes Inclusive Entrepreneurship through SC-ST Accelerator Program
• IIM
Sambalpur Partners with National SC-ST Hub to Nurture Grassroots Entrepreneurs
Sambalpur: IIM Sambalpur, one of India’s premier management
institutions, hosted the 6-day Business Accelerator Program for SC-ST
entrepreneurs in collaboration with the National SC-ST Hub, Ministry of MSME,
GOI, from 19th to 24th January, 2026. The objective of this programme is to
strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem by building capacity and
upskilling SC-ST entrepreneurs with essential business, financial, and digital
skills, in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The
event was graced by Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, Mr.
Sambit Tripathy, Ex- IRS, CMD, Livelihood Alternatives, as the Chief Guest, Dr.
Anupam Gayen, Zonal Head, NSIC, as the Guest of Honour, Ms. Nibedita Nayak,
Former Chairperson, Odisha State Social Welfare Board, as the Keynote Speaker.
The
programme consists of 12 days of training, including 6 days of
on-campus sessions at IIM Sambalpur and 6 days of online learning,
followed by 6 months of handholding support for participating entrepreneurs.
The first cohort of the Business Accelerator Programme included 25 participants
from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The second cohort of
the Business Accelerator Program will commence in February 2026,
offering a 72-hour hybrid learning experience through virtual weekend
sessions and a 6-day on-campus module at IIM Sambalpur.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, “IIM
Sambalpur’s vision is to nurture responsible leaders with an entrepreneurial
mind-set. Entrepreneurship is not just about creating wealth for oneself; it is
about creating value for society, the nation, and the planet. India’s vision of
Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved by building only large corporations; we must
nurture responsible entrepreneurs at the grassroots who innovate without
harming the environment or displacing communities. Aligned with National
Education Policy 2020, entrepreneurship must focus on knowledge creation,
innovation, and responsible wealth generation through modern technology.”
Addressing the gathering the Chief
Guest, Mr. Sambit Tripathy, Ex- IRS, CMD, Livelihood Alternatives, added,
“Developing robust business plans, refining ideas, and building capacity, along
with understanding the fundamentals of what we produce, consume, and how we
communicate, are essential to excel in entrepreneurship.”
The
Guest of Honour, Ms. Nibedita Nayak, Former Chairperson, Odisha State Social
Welfare Board, highlighted, “IIM Sambalpur stands at the confluence of
knowledge, aspiration, and nation-building, and I congratulate IIM Sambalpur
for introducing a programme that is not merely an academic initiative but a
national milestone. Today, SC-ST entrepreneurship matters more than ever
because inclusive growth is no longer a choice; it is an economic necessity.”
Through
this initiative, IIM Sambalpur once again highlighted its commitment to fostering
inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship by supporting
SC-ST entrepreneurs in scaling their ventures, generating local employment, and
contributing to India’s grassroots economic development.