Dr. Sapna Poti highlighted AI’s transformative potential, emphasizing government initiatives in healthcare, agriculture, and mobility sectors, fostering collaboration and innovation for societal welfare.
India’s “first beachside startup fest,” Emerge 2024, was inaugurated on February 16, 2024, at the Mangalore Surfing Club. Dr. Sapna Poti, Director of Strategic Alliances at PSA, GOI highlighted the event’s focus on fostering entrepreneurship, collaboration, and innovation, with a particular emphasis on AI’s transformative capacity.
The inaugural session of Emerge took place in the evening against a perfect sky overlooking the Tannirbhavi Beach as its venue. The event saw “great enthusiasm and participation” from Mangaluru’s startup ecosystem and unfolded with a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights. The three-day event is a collaborative platform fostering innovation across industries. Hosted by SECTION INFIN-8 in partnership with MyStartup TV, the weekend event promises a blend of innovation and tranquillity, “igniting the entrepreneurial spirit of attendees,” said Kartik Attavar, co-founder of Section Infin-8
Dr Sapna Poti, shared the transformative potential of AI, highlighting the pivotal role of government initiatives in fostering innovation. Dr. Poti emphasized that India’s government’s national AI program focuses on sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and mobility, aiming to leverage AI for societal impact.
The Manthan program, a collaborative initiative facilitating problem-solving and innovation across industries, provided insights to attendees. Dr. Poti highlighted the platform’s role in sourcing challenges and projects, connecting startups with grants and corporate opportunities, and amplifying success stories through partnerships with organizations like Amazon and Netflix.
Highlighting the multifaceted applications of AI across various sectors, Dr. Sapna shared the Government of India’s AI program that encompasses initiatives in healthcare, agriculture, mobility, and education, aiming to harness AI for societal welfare. From dementia care to crop patterns and traffic management, AI promises transformative solutions to complex challenges.
Dr. Sapna, while shedding light on the importance of data authenticity and stakeholder engagement in AI projects, emphasized the need for ground-up data collection, especially in rural areas, to ensure data accuracy and relevance to local communities. Dr. Poti advocated for incentivizing data sharing among stakeholders, fostering a collaborative ecosystem for AI-driven innovations. The Manthan program emerged as a cornerstone of collaborative innovation, bridging the gap between startups and industry challenges. Dr. Sapna underscored the platform’s role in democratizing access to funding and resources, empowering startups to scale their solutions and address real-world challenges effectively.
Emphasizing the need for integration and collaboration, Dr. Sapna added that trust among stakeholders is crucial to accelerate India’s AI journey. She called upon investors to take calculated risks and support AI-driven startups, fostering a conducive environment for innovation and growth.
Speaking to MyStartup TV on the sidelines of the event, Kartik Attavar, shared, “The attendees must have felt inspired and motivated, equipped with valuable insights into government programs and collaborative platforms like Manthan.”
Vishwas U S founder of Section Infin-8(SI-8), said, “The event’s immersive sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities set the stage for meaningful engagement and collaboration in the burgeoning field of AI entrepreneurship.”
Looking ahead, Emerge 2024 promises two more days of enriching discussions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities, driving forward the momentum of AI innovation in India. With a diverse array of stakeholders coming together to explore the possibilities of AI, Emerge 2024 is poised to catalyze transformative change and shape the future of entrepreneurship in India’s AI ecosystem.
