"Successful entrepreneurs must become champions for the next generation of founders by mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, sharing their experiences and creating pathways for others to succeed," said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, while addressing Alumni Connect, the first alumni meet of the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at the institute's Noida campus today.

"Learning and skilling are lifelong journeys, and our engagement with entrepreneurs should continue well beyond the classroom. If we want to build a true meritocracy, we must celebrate entrepreneurs who create value through innovation, resilience and hard work. NIESBUD's alumni network has the potential to become a vibrant platform of collaboration and excellence, where entrepreneurs learn from one another, build meaningful partnerships and collectively strengthen India's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Together, we can inspire millions to pursue entrepreneurship and accelerate our journey towards a developed and self-reliant India," he added.

Minister also launched two NIESBUD publications—'स्वावलंबन की ओर - 4', which showcases entrepreneurial success stories, institutional initiatives, and the transformative journeys of NIESBUD alumni, and 'Alumni Connect Volume - 1', a curated compilation of profiles of successful entrepreneurs nurtured through the institute's flagship programmes, including the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (ESDP), Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP), and other capacity-building initiatives.

Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said, "India needs millions of entrepreneurs to drive innovation, create jobs, and realise the vision of Viksit Bharat. Entrepreneurship is a lifelong journey that thrives on continuous learning and collaboration. NIESBUD's alumni network can play a transformative role by enabling successful entrepreneurs to mentor aspiring founders, foster innovation, and help build sustainable enterprises that contribute to India's economic growth."

Dr. Poonam Sinha, Director General, NIESBUD, said, "Every entrepreneur who passes through NIESBUD remains a valued member of our institutional family. Through initiatives like the Alumni Meet, we aim to create an enduring ecosystem where alumni continue to connect, collaborate, mentor and inspire one another, while benefiting from new opportunities for learning, networking and business growth. We are committed to supporting entrepreneurs not only during their training journey but throughout their entrepreneurial lifecycle."

The event also featured a session on Sharing of Best Practices by Mentors from NITI Aayog, that focused on the critical role of mentoring in enterprise growth. Through their experiences of mentoring entrepreneurs under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), NITI Aayog, the mentors shared practical lessons on overcoming business challenges, scaling enterprises, accessing opportunities, and building resilient entrepreneurial ventures. The session encouraged peer learning and inspired entrepreneurs through real-life experiences and proven mentoring practices.

This was followed by a Panel Discussion on 'Digital Growth Strategies: Leveraging ONDC, Meta and GeM for Market Expansion', bringing together representatives from these leading digital platforms. The discussion focused on enabling entrepreneurs to leverage digital commerce, Government procurement, social commerce, branding, digital marketing and online marketplaces for business expansion.

The event brought together NIESBUD alumni, nearly 200 successful entrepreneurs from 19 states, mentors, industry leaders, and policymakers on a common platform to celebrate entrepreneurial success, facilitate knowledge exchange, and strengthen lifelong institutional engagement.

Ms Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, MSDE, was also present on the occasion, along with senior officials from MSDE, NITI Aayog, NIESBUD, ONDC, GeM, and Meta.

Conceived under the guidance of Hon'ble Minister, the NIESBUD Alumni Meet 2026 marks the beginning of a structured and long-term engagement with NIESBUD alumni through the NIESBUD Alumni Network, envisioned as a vibrant platform for continuous interaction, mentoring, collaboration, business networking and knowledge exchange. By fostering stronger connections among entrepreneurs, mentors, industry and Government, the initiative seeks to create a self-sustaining entrepreneurial community that contributes to enterprise growth, employment generation, innovation and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

 

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