IIM-A's CIIE opens up space for Ahmedabad entrepreneurs

Launches IdeaPad which provides working space at its premises for aspiring entrepreneurs to work even as they get access to CIIE's mentorship and networking

In a bid to build a connect between the institute and the local community in the city, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A)'s Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) has opened up space at its premises for aspiring entrepreneurs in Ahmedabad.

For this, the IIM-A's incubation centre has launched IdeaPad which provides working space at its premises for aspiring entrepreneurs to work even as they get access to CIIE's mentorship and networking with other incubatee firms within the campus.

"CIIE has been nurturing an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship is the bridge between academics and practice. CIIE will incubate and strengthen the entrepreneurial ideas that will emerge from this platform," said Ashish Nanda, director of IIM-A while launching IdeaPad.

Emphasising on the institute's focus on nurturing entrepreneurship within the campus, Nanda said that IIM-A's flagship programme PGP's review committee has also recommended making entrepreneurship part of the first year.  "One of the recommendations is to make entrepreneurship an independent course in the first year," Nanda added.

According to Ashwin Joshi, VP Ecosystem Development at CIIE-IIMA, IdeaPad will look to cultivate a creative and collaborative environment for people in Ahmedabad to engage with each other in multiple ways.

"The idea is to build a shared workspace and co-working community wherein entrepreneurs can engage by co-working together, catching up over a cup of coffee, over events and exhibitions and many others. We hope this becomes a hub of entrepreneurship in Ahmedabad someday," Joshi said.

For a rental as low as approximately Rs 1500 per month, entrepreneurs in the city can avail a work space with facilities like free WiFi, CIIE mentorship and networking with incubatee firms.  Initially, CIIE is looking to provide a maximum of 30 co-working space.

"Call it an 'innovator's club', if you may. IdeaPad is an attempt to get creative people (artists, designers, innovators, entrepreneurs, freelancers and more) from the city to come together, engage and co-work," Joshi added.