NSRCEL

NSRCEL, which stands for the N. S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, is the central hub for innovation and entrepreneurship at IIM Bangalore. Since its establishment in 2002, its core mission has been to foster and promote entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on both new startups and existing organizations that show high potential for growth. The organization works to help entrepreneurs channel their skills and energy to transform their initial ideas into successful, thriving businesses. It achieves this by offering guidance and giving them access to essential resources, including a strong network of successful entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate leaders.

The approach of NSRCEL is to integrate theory with practice, creating a close connection between academic learning and the real-world challenges of entrepreneurship. They offer a range of specialized programs designed for different groups of people. For example, the Women Startup Program, supported by Kotak Mahindra Bank, is specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses. Another program, the Launchpad, is a five-month program that supports early-stage founders and helps them build a strong foundation for their ventures. NSRCEL also supports academic research to better understand the entrepreneurial landscape in India and has its own faculty members who focus exclusively on teaching and research related to entrepreneurship.

The center has had a significant impact on the startup ecosystem. According to some of the available data, NSRCEL has incubated hundreds of ventures and helped create thousands of jobs. It has formed collaborations with a variety of partners, including industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies like NITI Aayog, which provided funding for the center to grow. NSRCEL’s work also extends to creating and building a network of local investors and public institutions, helping to attract multinational organizations to the region, and nurturing local businesses. The organization is committed to being a platform where new ideas are created and where entrepreneurs can find the support they need to succeed.