Media Release
Mangaluru, May 27: Wizdom Institutions Network in coordination with the Department of Hospitality Science, Yenepoya Institute of Arts, Science, Commerce, and Management (YIASCM), Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), successfully hosted the "Int-Ellect 2024" International Conference on May 24. The event, themed "Boosting Entrepreneurial Culture: Exploring New-Age Business Possibilities," took place at the YIASCM Balmatta Campus in Mangaluru.
Inaugural programme:
The conference commenced with an inaugural programme led by Abhilash Kshatriya, COO of Wizdom Ed who also served as the emcee. Distinguished guests included Dr B H Sripathi Rao, Pro vice-chancellor of Yenepoya University; Anand Pillai, global director of IEUL, India, and South Asia head of Fresenius University of Applied Sciences; Geetha Kulkarni, ACP - City Crime Branch, Mangaluru; Dr Arun Bhagawath, principal of Yenepoya Institute of Arts, Science, and Commerce; Dr Francisca Tej, managing director of Wizdom Ed; and Mytreya A, COO of KCCI Mangaluru.
Dr Francisca Tej delivered the welcome address, followed by inspiring speeches from the dignitaries, and a ceremony to felicitate the guests.
Panel Discussions
Panel discussion 1: "The Entrepreneurship and Start-up Ecosystem: The India Success Story since 1947" was moderated by Dr. Arun Bhagawath. The panel included: Helen Alwaris, CEO, River Roost Resort, Mangaluru, Aysha Rasha, MD, DOES Event Planning, Mangaluru, Sunil Dutt Pai, MD, Real Estate, Mangaluru, Deepak Boloor, global HR director, DX Factors USA and advocate Sandeep Kumar, proprietor, Safe Legal Services, Bengaluru.
Panel Discussion 2: "The Entrepreneurship and Start-up Ecosystem: The Current India Story" was moderated by Dr Shareena P, vice-principal & dean, faculty of Commerce and Management. The panel included Shreeharsha Upadhya, CEO & founder, Les Saveurs Institute & Cafe, Dr Asim Syed Sheeraz, CEO, Yenepoya Foundation for Technology Incubation (YFTI), A Rajamani, regional head, Union Bank, Mangaluru, Avinash Poojary, proprietor, The Indian Kitchen, Manipal, and Nagesh Acharya, proprietor and CEO, Envista Financials, Mangaluru.
Panel Discussion 3: "The Entrepreneurship and Start-up Ecosystems: The India 2047 Predictions" was moderated by Dr Francisca Tej. The panel included Jyothi Saligrama, chief, Radio Kundapura - 89.6 FM, Gurudutt Shenoy, managing director, Mukund MGM Reality & Vertex Work Space, Dr Santhosh Prabhu, professor of law, SDM Law College, Mangaluru,
Shubha Baliga, lawyer & legal consultant, Mangaluru and Dr Priyadarshini Rai, managing director, Harsha Modern Diagnostic Services.
Paper Presentations
Participants engaged in paper presentations across various conference tracks:
1. Role of Hospitality & Tourism Entrepreneurship
2. Role of Incubation Centers & Shared Work Spaces
3. Role of Society and Community
Presentations took place in designated classrooms and provided an opportunity for students, faculty, and delegates to showcase their research and insights on the given themes.
Valedictory Programme
The conference concluded with a valedictory programme featuring prominent guests such as Dr Rajesh G D'Souza, principal of Yenepoya Institute of Technology; Hem Chand Verma, country head for India, HTMi Switzerland; Peter Nirmal, general manager of Taj Vivanta; Laxman Kundar, CEO of V4 News Network; Gloria Pillai, head of HR & admin, IET India; and Dr Arun Bhagawath, principal of YIASCM.
Addresses by Peter Nirmal and Guru Tej, co-founder and chief academic officer of Wizdom Ed, were highlights of the ceremony. The results of the best papers were eagerly awaited and announced by Hari Prasad, operations head at Wizdom Ed. The winners are as follows:
Best Paper Track 1: Role of Hospitality & Tourism Entrepreneurship
Student category
Srujan B C
Abhi Rego
Faculty category
Vaishnavi Prerana
Praveen Udupa
Best Paper Track 2: Role of Incubation Centres & Shared Work Spaces
Student Category
Donna Cardoza
Iona Dsouza
Faculty category
Rajeshwari Shetty
Dhanyashree
Track 3: Role of Society and Community
Student Category
1st place - Inchara N
2nd place - Shwetha Bhat
Faculty Category:
1st place - Dr Rakesh C
2nd place - Dr Hariprasad
Winners in each track received a cash prize of Rs 3,000.
Presenting on the topic of “Maximizing Entrepreneurial Culture through Innovative Interior Design in Shared Work Spaces” Anamika Gautam bagged the outstanding paper and received a cash prize of Rs 50,000.
The awarding of winners marked the successful conclusion of the "Int-Ellect 2024" International Conference. “Int-Ellect 2024" served as a significant platform for discussing entrepreneurial culture and exploring new-age business possibilities. The event fostered insightful discussions, valuable networking opportunities, and a showcase of innovative research, contributing to the growth and development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.
Dr Guru Tej, director of Wizdom Ed, Mervin Jaison Vas, head of the Department of Hospitality Science, Dr Shareena P, vice-principal and dean of commerce and management, Dr Jeevan Raj, and Narayan Sukumara, vice-principals of YIASCM, along with the teaching and non-teaching staff and students, were part of the organising committee.
The event witnessed the participation of over 200 attendees and more than 40 delegates. Abhilash Kshatriya compered the event.