Entrepreneurship at KRCT: Turn Ideas into Startups
In today’s dynamic economy, entrepreneurship is no longer limited to business schools or corporate boardrooms—it’s becoming an integral part of engineering education. At K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology (KRCT), students don’t just learn about machines, circuits, and code—they learn how to turn ideas into scalable ventures.
KRCT recognizes that entrepreneurship empowers students to become job creators, innovators, and problem-solvers. With a thriving ecosystem that includes incubation support, startup mentorship, and access to funding and industry partnerships, KRCT provides everything a student needs to move from classroom concept to market-ready startup.
This blog explores how KRCT fuels the entrepreneurial spirit in students and supports them at every step of their startup journey.
Why Entrepreneurship Matters for Engineering Students
Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in today’s fast-changing world by:
- Promoting independent thinking and innovation
- Developing real-world problem-solving abilities
- Creating opportunities for financial independence
- Building leadership, communication, and resilience
- Generating employment and contributing to economic development
At KRCT, entrepreneurship is not treated as an extra-curricular activity—it is deeply embedded into the academic and cultural ethos of the college.
The Foundation: KRCT’s Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC)
KRCT has established a dedicated Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) that serves as the nerve center of all student-led startup activities. This cell is run by a team of faculty coordinators, student volunteers, and startup mentors who work collaboratively to identify, guide, and nurture entrepreneurial talent.
Core Functions of the EDC:
- Identify students with entrepreneurial potential
- Conduct awareness programs on entrepreneurship and innovation
- Organize entrepreneurship bootcamps, business plan contests, and pitch fests
- Provide one-on-one mentorship and incubation support
- Guide students in preparing startup funding proposals
- Collaborate with external industry mentors and government agencies
The EDC ensures that students at KRCT not only dream big but also have a path to execute those dreams effectively.
From Ideas to Action: How Entrepreneurship Begins at KRCT
The entrepreneurial journey at KRCT often begins with a problem statement, a creative idea, or a passion project. Students are encouraged to convert their class projects into startup ideas and receive active support from mentors to turn them into viable business models.
Step-by-Step Startup Support:
- Ideation workshops to refine and validate startup ideas
- Pitch training to help students present their ideas to mentors and panels
- Prototype development with access to KRCT’s innovation labs
- Business model development using Lean Canvas and SWOT tools
- Pre-incubation and incubation for selected startups
- Market exposure and testing through exhibitions, expos, and surveys
- Investor networking and funding access through startup events
With this framework, KRCT ensures that students are not left navigating their ideas alone—they are guided at every step with structured entrepreneurial mentoring.
Entrepreneurship Through Interdisciplinary Innovation
KRCT promotes interdisciplinary collaboration as a key component of entrepreneurship. Many startups at KRCT are the result of students from different departments—such as CSE, Mechanical, ECE, and Civil—joining hands to build innovative solutions.
Examples:
- A CSE + ECE team developing a wearable health monitoring device
- A Civil + Mechanical group building a smart irrigation model for farmers
- A CSE + EEE collaboration on solar-powered energy management systems
These cross-disciplinary projects not only encourage teamwork but also produce more holistic and marketable products.
Startup Success Stories: KRCT’s Budding Entrepreneurs
KRCT has already seen several students successfully start their entrepreneurial journey.
Startup Spotlights:
- EcoGrit Solutions: A startup focused on biodegradable packaging materials, started by a group of final-year mechanical engineering students.
- SmartMed Tracker: A health tech app that reminds patients about medication, now in partnership with a local hospital.
- AgroSmart Systems: An IoT-enabled smart farming solution developed by EEE students and supported through KRCT’s Innovation Cell.
These startups have participated in events like Smart India Hackathon, TNSDC Innovation Challenge, and StartupTN Pitch Day, receiving both recognition and seed grants.
Mentorship: The Heart of Entrepreneurship at KRCT
No startup journey is complete without strong mentorship, and KRCT ensures that every student startup is guided by experienced professionals.
KRCT Offers:
- Faculty mentors for technical and project support
- Alumni entrepreneurs who provide industry insights
- External startup mentors from business incubators and venture capital networks
- Legal and financial guidance for company registration, compliance, and IP
Regular mentorship sessions help students avoid common pitfalls, build networks, and fast-track their startup’s growth.
Funding and Grants for Student Startups
Turning ideas into businesses requires financial support, and KRCT’s Entrepreneurship Development Cell helps students access:
- Institution-level pre-seed funding for prototype development
- Assistance in applying for AICTE Startup Schemes, DST NIDHI Prayas, MSME incubation grants
- Investor introductions at startup summits and demo days
- Guidance for crowdfunding platforms and business plan competitions
KRCT also organizes internal events like Investor Connect Day where students pitch live to investors and accelerators.
KRCT’s Incubation Centre: Infrastructure for Entrepreneurship
To support startups beyond the ideation stage, KRCT has developed a full-fledged Incubation Centre equipped with:
- Private and shared co-working spaces
- High-speed Wi-Fi and computing infrastructure
- 3D printers, CNC machines, and IoT kits
- Whiteboards, pitch decks, and creative rooms
- Administrative support for patent filing, accounting, and GST
The space is open 24×7 to startup teams and is regularly used by student founders for brainstorming, coding, prototyping, and business planning.
Connecting to the Startup Ecosystem: MoUs and Collaborations
KRCT believes that startups grow better in a connected ecosystem, and so the college has signed MoUs with:
- StartupTN and EDII-TN for entrepreneurship awareness and funding
- Industry partners and angel networks for product-market fit
- Local incubation centers like TBI, Periyar Incubation, and Forge Coimbatore
- National bodies like Atal Innovation Mission and AICTE IDEA Labs
These partnerships offer access to training, mentors, funds, co-incubation spaces, and industry networks that take KRCT’s student startups to the next level of impact.
Entrepreneurship in the Curriculum: Learning by Doing
At KRCT, entrepreneurship is integrated into the engineering curriculum through:
- Open elective subjects on entrepreneurship and innovation
- Mini projects aligned with startup concepts
- Final year projects with commercial application goals
- Credits and recognition for participating in startup events
- Workshops on IPR, marketing, business analytics, and customer discovery
This ensures that students don’t just read about business—they build one.
Entrepreneurship at KRCT—Where Ideas Become Impact
Entrepreneurship at KRCT is more than a department—it’s a movement, a mindset, and a mission. Through comprehensive support—spanning ideation, mentorship, incubation, funding, and execution—KRCT empowers students to turn ideas into innovations and innovations into startups.
If you’re passionate about solving problems, exploring new ideas, or launching your own venture—KRCT is the place to start.
Turn Your Ideas Into Reality—Start Your Startup Journey at KRCT!
Explore, create, launch, and lead. Entrepreneurship begins with your first step—and KRCT is here to walk with you, every step of the way.
