Workshop 2 – Highlights
As part of the IISc Innovation Pathfinders League (IPL) 2026, the Orientation Workshop for the Energy, Sustainability & Physical-Digital Convergence, held on 24 August 2026, brought together students, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and faculty members to explore opportunities for translating research into innovative products, startups, and impactful industry collaborations.
Speaker Highlights
Pavan Belehalli and Ananthasuresh G K (strideAIde) shared their entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of market visibility, strategic communication, and building multiple revenue streams for research-based ventures.
Apurwa Masook (SpaceFields) discussed the realities of building a deep-tech startup, highlighting the role of persistence, investor engagement, and strong teams in navigating the startup ecosystem.
Dhavala Suri and Manjunath Jyothinagara (UHP Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) reflected on how long-term research collaborations, trust, and goodwill can evolve into diversified business opportunities and sustainable growth.
Key Insights from the Panel Discussion
Moderated by Vivek Khatua, the panel emphasized:
- Explore different pathways such as startups, licensing, and research collaborations.
- Focus on solving real customer needs.
- Build sustainable businesses with multiple revenue sources.
- Stay persistent and learn from failures.
- Build strong teams with complementary skills.
- Communicate effectively and create visibility for your work.
- Develop long-term relationships and partnerships.
- Understand that there is no single path to commercialization.
- Combine curiosity, commitment, and perseverance to create impact.
The workshop provided valuable perspectives on technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and research partnerships, while reinforcing that successful innovation depends not only on technology, but also on people, communication, and continuous learning.
View Poster
