Mayukh Choudhury cut short a lucrative consulting career in Dubai to start a social venture along with two friends. It was a unique idea - Milaap would be a social lending portal to help India's working poor access education, clean water and lighting by crowdsourcing funds. Milaap moved from an idea to business venture, thanks to IIM-Bangalore's N S Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL). The centre supported Milaap by providing access to mentors and infrastructure. Today, Milaap has sourced funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore for artisans, students and small manufacturers at a nominal interest rate with defined repayment schedules.
Entrepreneurship courses on campuses have groomed students like Mayukh to think outside the corporate box. Entrepreneurship-specific curriculum has moved from classroom knowledge to experiential learning, engaging students in developing real life skills. National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) has 539 member academic institutes with 80, 000 student members across the country. These help enhance entrepreneurship education, provide access to mentors, incubation and funding.
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