Mangaluru: The closure of Covid-induced educational institutions not only affects learning but also slows the progress of incubated startup on campus.
Nitk-Step near the city of Mangaluru is one of the oldest entrepreneurial development centers in the state, incubating three to four startups every year.
Director, B Venkuatta Perumal, said that the pandemic had stopped the college level startup work.
“They have been given a special room on each campus.
But pandemics have interfered with their work.
Startup software can work remotely, but not hardware.
The latter does not get the material needed to design a product,” he said, adding that the entity Beginners experience difficult phases.
Perumal is also a professor of electronic department and communication techniques.
He said that 13 startups, including six who worked on hardware, currently operating in Nitk-Step.
Johnson Tellis about Hub Sahyadri for innovation and entrepreneurship said that securing more funds had become a challenge for small startups.
“Working remotely is not easy because most internships are inexperienced and we find it difficult to guide them.
It is easy when people work in a shared room as a team.
Connectivity is a common problem,” he said.
This campus has a dozen startup and has been dedicated 1.3 lakh sq ft space.
Perumal said that some startups had recruited internships and full timers, but they could not pay them even half of salary.
According to Glenson Toney, Manager, Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering Incubation Center, Moodbidri, Hardware Startup work cannot develop until students work in the laboratory.
This campus has around 20 startups, 60 percent of them are developing hardware.
“Covid-19 has caused high levels of uncertainty, struggle, and challenges.
As a technology startup, we need Labs Innovation.
When they are closed, we cannot make progress.
We have faced difficulties in getting funds since the first wave of pandemics.
We got a lot Time, but productivity is the Nile, “said Shilpa K Nayana, the founder of the Nitk Startup Dime-Klear.