SHILLONG, July 21 - If you have a sustainable social business model and the only roadblock is funds, think no more and head straight to North Eastern Hill University which would not only provide funding but also mentor the model for at least two years.
Such social business models or start-ups would be provided funds and other necessary support by the University�s newly conceptualised �Incubation Centre.� It would be headed by NEHU Vice Chancellor, Prof SK Srivastava as its chief patron and the chairman will be Prof S Rama Rao.
The steering committee comprises of six members, including Prof Biswajeet Mohapatra and special invitees include Director of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE), BK Sohliya, and others.
The Centre proposes to sign a MoU with Meghalaya Government through the active partnership with MIE. The funds at the centre would be generated from Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Development of North Eastern Region, North Eastern Council, University Grants Commission, Meghalaya Government and other interested donors.
�Our university has decided to set up the Incubation Centre, as a supplementary promotional activity of the National Institute Ranking Framework, to provide an ecosystem for social start-ups. It would offer guidance, mentoring, physical space and network for funding and value-based collaboration for incubation of novel ideas by active promotion of Start-ups,� Mohapatra said.
He said that by social start-ups it indicates entrepreneurial ideas, which would have a direct impact on poor people by making available quality products at affordable prices.
The centre will offer active incubation support to the new proposed ventures for a period ranging from one to two years so that the start-ups become independent and self-supporting.
Meanwhile, the University has said that start-up ideas can be sent directly to the Centre through e-mail: nehuincubationcentre @gmail.com by July 24.
