ValuAble, an Rs 850 crore venture debt fund, concluded the 'Start-up Workshop' in partnership with International Purple Fest and BITS Incubator on 10th January 2024 at Goa's Kala Academy. The one-day workshop offered aspiring entrepreneurs an immersive experience with expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities. 

This event was part of the International Purple Fest 2024, an inclusive festival that promotes equal participation in society for persons with disabilities. 

Minister of Social Welfare Shubhash Phal Dessai, President of Special Olympics Bharath Dr Mallika Nadda, MLA of Bicholim Dr Chandrakant Shetye and Member of Goa Legislative Assembly Jennifer Monserrate attended the workshop, which consisted of sessions for empowering attendees on their entrepreneurial journey.

These included discussions on 'Are you founder material?' and 'Brew Ideas: Crafting the Perfect Start-up Concept' by ValuAble's founders, Rahul Gupta and Siba Panda. This initiative also sowed the seeds of awareness about the assistive tech start-ups that are fostering accessibility for people in India living with disabilities and facilitating mainstream inclusion.

The workshop, which 50 students attended, had interactive fireside chats with Siddharth Daga of Neomotion, Torchit, and Glovatrix founders, Prateek Khandelwal of Ramp My City, and as well as founders of assistive tech start-ups. These included Siddharth Daga of Neomotion, Hunny Bhagchandani of TorchIt, Aishwarya Karnataki of Glovatrix - Fifth Sense, and Akashdeep Bansal of SaralX. 

Rahul Gupta, founder and managing partner of ValuAble, said, "With this workshop, we aimed to cultivate a nurturing environment where aspiring entrepreneurs could not only envision their dreams but also acquire the tools and insights needed to turn those dreams into reality. It wasn't just about imparting knowledge; it was like a start-up boot camp that ignited a fire within each participant to pave the way for innovative business ideas and kickstart entrepreneurial journeys. The success of this workshop has been truly gratifying." 

Siba Panda, founder and managing partner of ValuAble, said, "Our collaboration with International Purple Fest and BITS Incubator was an initiative to create a nurturing ground where innovative ideas meet actionable guidance. We intended to guide participants on channelling their passion, navigating challenges, and transforming their ideas into sustainable businesses. The workshop was a space where participants could learn the art of securing funding, understand the VC landscape, and explore innovative ways to fuel their entrepreneurial dreams."

Participants were awarded certificates acknowledging their active participation and engagement throughout the workshop.