ISDI Ace To Encourage Entrepreneurial Spirit

ISDI Ace (Indian School of Design and Innovation – Accelerating Creativity and Entrepreneurship) is India's first accelerator for creative entrepreneurs and disruptive designers. Aimed to encourage the innovative spirit of entrepreneurial India, ISDI Ace has been conceptualised by Radha Kapoor (Founder and Executive Director of the Indian School of Design and Innovation).

ISDI Ace, supported by the Microsoft Ventures, was inaugurated today by Saurabh Srivastava, Cofounder and former Chairman of NASSCOM.

"Whether it is a success or failure, entrepreneurship is accepted in India," said Srivastava in his inaugural address. While supporting the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Srivastava said, "We must design and innovate before that."

India is a rare case where we can continue to grow, if we can innovate, he added.

Dr. Indu Shahani, President and Chairperson, ISDI, ISME in her address said,“Entrepreneurs are destined, but need to be nurtured.” She observed that every second person on the road is an entrepreneur, and still we don’t have an institute to teach entrepreneurship. “We just need to develop job creators, not job seekers,” she said.

The launch event was followed by a panel discussion themed ‘Building an ecosystem to foster innovation and attract international capital in India.’

Participating in the panel discussion, said Padmanabh Sinha, Managing Partner, Tata Opportunities Fund, “To accelerate entrepreneurship, we need to create curiosity in the mind of a person at a young age.” It requires a different mind-set, he explained.

“We need people who can think differently and need more mentorships,” observed, Sumer Juneja, Director, N V P India whereas Rishi Gautam of AZB & Partners felt the need of laws to be amended and to be made easy to understand and follow.

The panellists felt that the present education system to be changed to make entrepreneurs to think differently. They also pointed out that creativity in the sectors like consumer, education and healthcare segments are not yet explored effectively. The panel discussion was well attended by serial entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists.