The Indian School of Business (ISB) with campuses at Hyderabad and Mohali, on July 26, 2014 launched the Technology Entrepreneurship Programme (TEP) aimed at encouraging and enabling engineering students to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice. Over a two-year period, the programme aims to embed technology entrepreneurship education, across the major disciplines of engineering and help the student’s to create and launch new business ventures.

The programme in Telangana, was formally launched by K T Rama Rao, Honourable Minister for IT & Panchayat Raj, Government of Telangana in the presence of Ajit Rangnekar, Dean, ISB, H K Mittal, Advisor, Member Secretary, National Science & Technology Board (NSTEDB) and Secretary, Technology Development Board (TDB), members of the TEP Advisory Board, leading entrepreneurs, angel investors, students from the participating institutions and members of the ISB community.
Mr KT Rama Rao said, “I am happy to launch ISB’s Technology Entrepreneurship programme, which will promote technology entrepreneurship and nurture the culture of entrepreneurship in the region. The government of Telangana is committed to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the new state. We want to support every deserving entrepreneur and hope that the next big idea comes from Hyderabad. I look forward to work with the ISB to make Hyderabad the next preferred innovation and investment destination for entrepreneurs.”
 
Explaining the future roadmap for the TEP, Ajit Rangnekar, said, “We believe that programmes like the TEP will help to scale up the entrepreneurial talent among the young people, which will make them wealth creators and have a social impact by creating more employment opportunities in our country. A closer connect between government, academia and the industry can play a larger role in supporting the growth of new and emerging businesses and assisting  existing enterprises in reaching this national goal. We are appreciative of the support from the Government and look forward to working with them in creating one of the best enabling ecosystems in the country.”
 
Addressing the aspiring entrepreneurs, H K Mittal, said, “Choose entrepreneurship as a career only if you are passionate about it. Money is but, a byproduct of an idea that is beautifully executed.” 
 
The TEP received an overwhelming response from students of the participating institutions. In all, 2000 registrations were received from 14 colleges across seven districts in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The applications were received from talented engineering students who secured an average of 88% in their academics. After a rigorous selection process, 700 students have been enrolled into the programme. The TEP maintains a healthy gender ratio of 55:45 with strong presence of women students. The students enrolled in the TEP include students from various engineering backgrounds including electronics and communications, electrical and electronics, mechanical and civil engineering.

The TEP has been set up with the gracious support of various external partners. Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) has granted gratis access to articles and cases required for the program. Microsoft Ventures has extended mentorship and technology support to the TEP students. Google has provided support in setting up the technology communication platform.

The curriculum for the programme has been designed by ISB in association with industry leaders, entrepreneurs and the investor community. ISB faculty will play an important role in training faculty of the participating engineering colleges in cutting edge global teaching practices and improve the programme delivery in their respective colleges. The selected students have already started attending workshops on the design thinking approach to product innovation under the aegis of D’Labs, the design led incubator at the ISB.

The TEP was started in association with the Institute of Electronic Governance and has been designed to generate an entrepreneurial mindset among engineering students by developing the requisite skills, attitudes and behaviour. They will also be equipped with competencies that will enable them to pursue an entrepreneurial career and in creating new ventures. The TEP will be offered as an elective to the 3rd and 4th year of engineering students and will be delivered through a unique technology platform.

On successfully completing the programme, students will be better equipped in several key competencies required to succeed within the entrepreneurial eco-system. The students, having gained a broad management/entrepreneurship education will also be better trained to be innovative and excel in their careers.