A  Report  on

Expert Lecture on “Catalyzing Startups: Exploring AI & Startup Ecosystem through AIIDE CoE and SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur”

Organized by:  MSoET in collaboration of MUIT Incubation & Innovation Foundation (MIIF) & IQAC MUIT Noida

Introduction

The Maharishi School of Engineering & Technology, in collaboration with the MUIT Incubation & Innovation Foundation (MIIF) and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), successfully organized an expert lecture on the topic “Catalyzing Startups: Exploring AI & Startup Ecosystem through AIIDE CoE and SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur” on 9 October 2025 for the final- and third-year students of the Maharishi School of Engineering & Technology (MSoET), Maharishi University of Information Technology, Noida Campus.

The objective of the lecture was to create awareness among students about startup incubation, innovation ecosystems, and opportunities in Artificial Intelligence–driven entrepreneurship, particularly through government-supported Centres of Excellence and premier institutions such as IIT Kanpur.

Expert Lecture Session

The session was delivered by Mr. Vasav Krishna, Head – AI/ML Domain, SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur. The speaker shared valuable insights into the startup ecosystem, with a special focus on AI-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Krishna elaborated on the AIIDE CoE (Artificial Intelligence and Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship – Centre of Excellence), highlighting its vision, objectives, and role in nurturing startups. He explained how the Centre of Excellence aims to support and develop startups based in Uttar Pradesh that are working in emerging domains such as:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Cybersecurity

Other Allied Deep-Tech Areas

The speaker also discussed the role of SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur, in providing mentorship, funding support, industry connections, and technical guidance to early-stage startups and student innovators across allied deep-tech areas.

Student Interaction and Engagement

The lecture witnessed active participation from students, who showed keen interest in understanding startup ideation, incubation processes, funding opportunities, and the application of Artificial Intelligence in real-world business solutions. The interactive question-and-answer session enabled students to clarify their doubts related to entrepreneurship, innovation pathways, and career opportunities within the startup ecosystem.

Outcomes of the Session

The expert lecture proved to be highly beneficial for students, as it:

• Enhanced awareness about AI-based startups and innovation ecosystems
• Motivated students to explore entrepreneurship and startup culture
• Provided insights into government and institutional support mechanisms
• Encouraged students to transform innovative ideas into viable startup ventures

Conclusion

The expert lecture on “Catalyzing Startups: Exploring AI & Startup Ecosystem through AIIDE CoE and SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur”, organized by MIIF, was a successful and informative initiative. The session effectively inspired students to think beyond conventional career paths and explore innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

The lecture aligned with MUIT’s vision of promoting innovation, startups, and industry–academia collaboration, and played a significant role in empowering students with knowledge about emerging opportunities in the AI startup ecosystem.