The Hindu Business Line : IIM-B is for entrepreneurs too

It's ironical. While thousands of students are elbowing their way to enter the portals of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, there are few takers for entrepreneurial programmes offered by the institute, within the same campus, by the same faculty.

The Nadathur S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning located within the IIM-B campus seeds, nurtures and promotes entrepreneurship. "While India is riding high on entrepreneurship now, not many understand that they would need professional help during some critical phases," says Dr Kalyani Gandhi, Professor and Chairperson of the centre. "Most people get over-awed by the fact that these programmes are conducted at the IIM campus and seem to think that, `it's not for them'." Dr Gandhi and her team are striving to change this mindset among people.

The centre, set up about five years ago, is active in the areas of teaching, research, short-term programmes, seminars and entrepreneurship facilitation initiative and incubation facility, which has so far incubated 15 business ideas. "Under the entrepreneurship facilitation initiative, we have a panel of experts in various areas of management offering pro bono advice to entrepreneurs in any business stage," says Dr Gandhi.

The centre offers facilities such as faculty guide, industry mentor, office space, PCs with Internet connectivity, access to IIM-B library and access to expert advice from members of the facilitation panel comprising both IIM-B faculty and consultants.

However, not all effort has been in vain, says Dr Gandhi. The centre's annual workshop for women entrepreneurs now draws a sizeable registration and so has its online programme for family businesses. "But our facilities are still under-utilised and we can offer much more to the business community," she said.

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