Patna: A five-day entrepreneurship bootcamp at National Institute of Technology Patna is giving students a chance to turn their ideas into real businesses, with the added promise of funding for the most promising concepts. The ‘Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship (IDE) Bootcamp 2026’, being held from April 20 to 24, has attracted more than 200 students and young innovators who are eager to explore the world of startups and business creation in a practical way.
The programme is being organised by the All India Council for Technical Education along with the Ministry of Education Innovation Cell, with support from the Wadhwani Foundation and the SBI Foundation. This bootcamp is not limited to Patna alone but is taking place at around 30 locations across India, making it a large-scale initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
During the bootcamp, participants have been divided into 40 teams. Each team is working on developing a startup idea from the beginning. Students are learning how to think creatively, identify problems, and build solutions that can work in the real world. They are also being trained in important areas such as design thinking, business planning, and how to present their ideas effectively in front of experts.
Professor Bharat Gupta, who is in charge of the incubation centre at the institute, said that the aim of the programme is to ensure that students gain complete knowledge about starting and running a business. He explained that participants are being guided on every step, including how to create a business model, understand legal requirements, and manage finances. Many of the students taking part are from BTech and MTech courses, along with some young startup founders.
One of the most exciting parts of the bootcamp is the opportunity for funding. Experts from the startup and innovation sector are evaluating the ideas developed by students. The best ideas will receive financial support through initiatives such as YUKTI and the Smart India Hackathon. On the final day, all teams will present their ideas in detail, explaining their vision and plans for the future. This gives students a real chance to move from just having an idea to actually launching their own startup.
