Raurkela: With 115 startups currently supported and around 1,000 jobs generated, the Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation (FTBI) at NIT Raurkela showcased the growing impact of its startup ecosystem while celebrating World Entrepreneurship Day 2026 on August 21.
The event brought together successful entrepreneurs, alumni, aspiring startup founders, students and members of the innovation ecosystem, providing a platform for them to exchange experiences and insights on innovation, risk-taking and building sustainable ventures.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Subrat Kumar Panda underlined the importance of resilience, patience and the courage to take risks in entrepreneurship. He encouraged young innovators to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and remain committed to developing solutions to real-world problems.
The programme featured entrepreneurial journeys from founders associated with the FTBI ecosystem. Amiya Kumar Samantaray, Founder and CEO of DATOMS, joined the event virtually, while Ashutosh Nayak, Founder and CEO of KOEL FRESH; Dr Shitarashmi Sahu, Founder of BIOTEZ Agrinovation; Anurag Mishra, CMO and CFO of Yoshino Energy Pvt. Ltd.; and Abhijeet Sahoo, Co-founder of FASTECH and MYORG360, shared their experiences.
The entrepreneurs spoke about building ventures across sectors including sustainability, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology and apparel. They also discussed the challenges, setbacks and lessons that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, offering practical insights to students and aspiring founders.
The discussions highlighted how entrepreneurship can contribute to employment generation, innovation and India’s economic growth. Speakers stressed that building a successful business is not the only objective of entrepreneurship, with creating value and generating opportunities for society also forming an important part of the journey.
The figures highlighted at the event underline the expanding role of FTBI in nurturing startups and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. With 115 startups currently under its ecosystem and around 1,000 jobs generated, the incubation centre has emerged as an important platform for turning innovative ideas into ventures.
The programme was coordinated by Chiranjibi Samal, Chief Executive Officer, FTBI, NIT Raurkela, with the support of the FTBI team.
The event concluded with the felicitation of the participating entrepreneurs. Their journeys and insights encouraged students and young innovators to view challenges as opportunities and pursue ideas that can create meaningful and sustainable impact.
