The MET Institute of Computer Science, in collaboration with IEEE, inaugurated IGNITE 2025: One Day to Spark a Lifetime of Entrepreneurship! on August 4, 2025, setting the stage for a power-packed day of inspiration, ideation, and immersive learning.

The event was inaugurated with lighting the lamp in the presence of Mr. Pankaj Bhujbal, Hon. Trustee, MET; Chief Guest Mr. Akshay Adhalrao, MD, Dynalog; Mr. Nitesh Gawade, Life Coach & Entrepreneur; Dr. Abhijit Banubakode, Principal, MET ICS, Prof. Omprakash Mandge, Entrepreneurship Ambassador, R10 RECI, IEEE; MET Faculty & students.

The ceremonial act marked an auspicious start to the event, reflecting unity, hope and the collective commitment towards inspiring innovation among the participants.

The event began on an inspiring note with the inaugural address by Mr. Pankaj Bhujbal, Hon. Trustee, MET, emphasising how entrepreneurship is the engine that drives innovation and shapes the future of our economy and society.

Prof. Omprakash Mandge, Entrepreneurship Ambassador, IEEE R10 RECI, introduced the agenda of the day, outlining the vision behind IGNITE 2025. He spoke about the mission of nurturing innovation & collaboration, and the purpose of the event to ignite creativity, provide a platform for budding entrepreneurs, and empower the students to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.

MET Institute of Computer Science was honoured to welcome Mr. Akshay Adhalrao, MD, Dynalog, as the Chief Guest at IGNITE 2025.

In his address, Mr. Adhalrao introduced the thought-provoking concept of ‘Mahapreneur’, encouraging the participants to view the customers as God and focus on creating real, need driven solutions that create lasting impact.

He also engaged with the students through Q&A session motivating them with insights on pursuing entrepreneurship with empathy, integrity and purpose. His message truly inspired everyone at IGNITE - reminding us that great businesses start not just with ideas, but with a real desire to help others and make a difference.

MET Institute of Computer Science was honoured to welcome Mr. Nitesh Gawade, Life Coach & Entrepreneur, as the Keynote Speaker at IGNITE 2025.

Mr. Gawade engaged the audience thoroughly by posing the question: \"Why are you here?” - classifying the attendees as prisoners, vacationers, or learners. He emphasised that true learners come in search of career growth, entrepreneurship, and abundant earnings. Using vivid analogies, he stressed the importance of open-minded listening and encouraged students to reflect on their goals for becoming entrepreneurs.

Mr. Gawade outlined four levels of entrepreneurship: survival, pleasure, passion-driven success, and finding one\'s purpose in life. He underscored the value of moving beyond survival and pleasure toward passion and purpose. Citing examples such as The Kapil Sharma Show, he demonstrated how true entrepreneurs think beyond ‘me’ to ‘we’ and focus on creating ventures that serve and uplift society. His address left the audience motivated to pursue entrepreneurship with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

IGNITE 2025 featured a panel discussion, ‘From Idea to Execution’, bringing together a stellar lineup of entrepreneurs, experts, and academicians.

The panel comprised: Dr. Abhijit Banubakode, Principal, MET ICS; Dr. Vaishali Kulkarni, Head - MET Incubation Centre, MET; Mr. Mahesh Kaware, Certified Financial Planner; Dr. Arun Raaza, Founder, Arcomm; Mr. Naresh Konga, Founder, Konga Infotech LLP; Mr. Abhishek Jajoo, Founder & CEO, Abhishek Jajoo & Co.; Mr. Siddharth Jain, Founder & CEO, Tech Simians India Pvt. Ltd; moderated by Prof. Omprakash Mandge, Associate Professor, MET ICS.

During the discussion, Dr. Banubakode shared how students at MET ICS are encouraged to move from academic learning to entrepreneurial action, fostering innovation through project-based learning. Dr. Kulkarni encouraged aspiring founders to leverage MET’s in-house incubation centre and highlighted government initiatives such as Startup India, MSME funding, and prototype support schemes for women innovators. Mr. Kaware stressed the importance of financial planning and shared insights from his journey, introducing the concept of EMI: Emergency fund, Medical, and Insurance, urging founders to pay themselves a base salary to ensure stability. Mr. Jajoo shared insights into budgeting, cash flow, pricing for product-based ventures, and organic growth through service-based models. Mr. Konga emphasised knowing your product thoroughly, maintaining constant client communication, and regular financial reconciliation. Mr. Jain detailed his entrepreneurial journey and presented a four-step framework: identify the problem, live it, build the solution, and discover the market. He also advocated for a stop-loss mindset to minimize the risk. Dr. Raaza advised students to develop people management and leadership skills alongside technical expertise to thrive as founders.

The discussion offered actionable insights across all stages of entrepreneurship and left the audience inspired, better informed, and equipped to take their ideas from concept to reality.

MET Institute of Computer Science welcomed Dr. Farida Virani, Professor, MET IOM, for an interactive session as part of IGNITE 2025.

Dr. Virani delivered an engaging session that brought the principles of human-centred design thinking to life through compelling storytelling. She shared nature-inspired examples such as Japan’s bullet train, modeled after the kingfisher’s beak for noise reduction and speed and drones influenced by bee flight patterns. These stories sparked imagination while reinforcing the importance of sustainable and meaningful design.

This served as a foundation for students to pitch their innovative concepts. The creativity was palpable, with standout projects like \"Crochet Baee\" showcasing intricate handmade crafts, \"Vaidya\" gamifying health and wellness through a healer’s journey, \"Inara\" offering distinctive perfumes, \"Spectra\" introducing smart spectacles, and \"Adhwin\" featuring unique, handcrafted gifts. Many other ideas also energized the room with fresh thinking. Students confidently presented their creations, impressively addressing questions from the panel. This hands-on segment celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit and underscored the power of problem-solving design.

As IGNITE 2025 drew to a close, it left behind a trail of inspiration, fresh ideas, and empowered minds ready to leap into entrepreneurship. From thought-provoking keynotes to hands-on simulation games, the event was a true melting pot of innovation, collaboration, and real-world learning. Students and aspiring founders walked away with not just knowledge but a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and purposeful action. IGNITE proved that it only takes one day to spark a lifetime of entrepreneurial thinking. The energy, enthusiasm, and ideas generated here will continue to ripple forward, driving change and shaping the future of business and innovation.