Event: Professional Development Training on Startup Payanam 1.0

Session: Transformation of Idea to Startup

Date: 27 July to 7 August 2026

Time: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Venue: Gallery Hall, Fourth Floor, Block 5 (Central Library Block)

Resource person: Mr. Praveen Thiyagarajan, Co-Founder, CampusX Ventures

Event conveners: Mr. Karthick. K, Head (Startup, Innovation and Entrepreneurship), SRM Group of Institutions, Ramapuram, Chennai; Dr. G. Priya, Co-ordinator (Startup, Innovation and Entrepreneurship), Faculty of Liberal Arts and Business Studies, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, Chennai

Participants: 44 students

Objective of the event

The Startup Payanam programme was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC), Faculty of Liberal Arts and Business Studies, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai Ramapuram, in association with the R. Shivakumar Research and Innovation Foundation - Startup Incubation Centre. It aimed to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among students by providing practical exposure to the startup ecosystem and by guiding them in transforming innovative ideas into viable startup ventures.

The session on "Transformation of Idea to Startup" helped students understand the journey from identifying a promising idea to developing it into a structured and sustainable startup, with a focus on entrepreneurial thinking, opportunity recognition, problem solving, innovation, market awareness, and the practical steps involved in taking an idea towards implementation.

Summary of the event

The EDC conducted the Startup Payanam programme from 27 July 2026 to 7 August 2026 at 8:30 AM. As part of the programme, the expert session "Transformation of Idea to Startup" was delivered by Mr. Praveen Thiyagarajan, Co-Founder of CampusX Ventures. He gave practical insights into converting an initial idea into a startup opportunity, highlighting the importance of identifying meaningful problems, understanding customer needs, evaluating the feasibility of ideas, developing value propositions, and adopting a systematic approach to startup creation.

The interaction emphasized that successful startups are built around real problems and validated opportunities. Students were encouraged to think beyond the idea stage and consider customer requirements, market potential, innovation, business models, execution strategies, and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. The session also gave students the chance to interact with an industry practitioner and gain first-hand perspectives on startup challenges and the transition from concept to execution.

Outcomes of the programme

• Students gained a clearer understanding of the stages involved in transforming an idea into a startup.
• Participants developed awareness of problem identification, opportunity recognition, customer needs, and market relevance.
• Students understood the importance of validating ideas before investing significant time and resources in development.
• The session enhanced entrepreneurial thinking, creativity, critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Participants gained practical awareness of startup planning, value creation, execution, and sustainable business development.
• The programme motivated students to explore entrepreneurship, innovation initiatives, incubation opportunities, and startup development as future pathways.