2 Assam startup working on large scale pitha making machine

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 29, 2024

Two start-ups are working on developing a pitha-making machine, and once they achieve a breakthrough, the popularity of the Assamese delicacy will increase manifold both nationally and globally.

Addressing the two-day skilling programme of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) organized for startups under the Northeast Capacity Building 2.0 (NECB 2.0) project sponsored by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on June 27 and 28, entrepreneurial consultant Satyen Madhav Mahanta said that the traditional food industry can throw up immense opportunities for startups.

“Two other possibilities in line with the pitha manufacturing machine could be its packaging and an SOP on the ingredients,” Mahanta said.

Dr Y Jayanta Singh, executive director of NIELIT emphasized the growing significance of artificial intelligence and highlighted the futuristic potential of the new electronic semiconductor plant being established in the region.

He noted that these developments could revolutionize the local economy and create numerous opportunities for startups.

The Startup Catalyst Program at the Assam Startup, the Nest premises, which aimed to bolster the startup ecosystem in Northeast India, brought together prominent industry experts and government officials to discuss the future of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

Anubhav Tiwari, chief innovation officer of NIELIT, provided an insightful overview of the potential prospects for startups in the Northeast, underscoring the region’s untapped potential and the importance of fostering a supportive environment for new ventures.

Satyanarayana Reddy M, head of the Innovation & Business Department at Keystone Centre for Innovation and Teacher Education (KCITE), led a technical session focusing on the potential effectiveness of prompt engineering in startup innovations.

Ankur Mehta, associate director at Plaksha University, gave a presentation on the intricacies of pitching a business and another technical element crucial for startup success.

Naveen KL, another expert speaker and the founder of Trice Systems Private Limited, shared an in-depth account of his entrepreneurial journey. He offered valuable advice for startups, highlighting key points that can significantly contribute to their success.

MD of Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Chinmoy Prakash Phookan elaborated on the initiatives undertaken by the corporation to popularize the startup culture among the local populace and highlighted various performance metrics and successful projects, demonstrating the positive impact of the efforts in nurturing a vibrant startup community. Nandita Dutta, secretary of the Information Technology Department, appreciated the startup catalyst programme for its visionary approach and encouraged further evolution of such efforts.

“With the collaborative efforts of NIELIT, Assam startup and the Assam government, the future looks promising for aspiring entrepreneurs in Northeast,” she mentioned.

Apart from Satyen Madhav Mahanta, an entrepreneurial consultant based at Assam, the panel discussion moderated brought together distinguished panelist Rajarshi Sharma, chief operating officer of Assam Startup and Dr Hirak Ranjan Das, innovation manager at the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell.

Das rued that startup creation and awareness is the Northeast is low compared to the rest of India. “For instance, at an awareness programme organized in Guwahati recently, only nine startups turned up, while a similar programme in Maharashtra attracted some 1800 startups,” Dr Das added.