Maitreyi Innovation and Startup Policy
"Maitreyi College has established an Institution's Innovation Council in the campus as per the norms of Innovation cell, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India during the academic calendar year 2021-22."
Incept, Innovate and Inspire
Meraki, the Entrepreneurship Cell of Maitreyi College, is a distinctive initiative started by the visionary minds of Prof. Haritma Chopra and Mrs. Nidhi Chand. Established in 2019, Meraki is focused on inducing the entrepreneurial spirit among students. The cell has been further recognised in the top ten Entrepreneurship Cells at the University of Delhi.
The major goals of the entrepreneurship cell include providing a supportive environment for students to cultivate their entrepreneurial skills and empowering students to create a meaningful impact in the world through proper mentorship and guidance. Maitreyi College has encouraged and promoted more than 55 start-up and 9 In-house initiatives. Few start-ups such as Stay Mentor, Riding Rangers have established themselves in the competitive world over the years. Moreover, the college has approved 6 patent including a patent for a UV box disinfectant.
Cultivating a dynamic ecosystem where creativity and innovation thrive, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students.
The mission of the cell included fostering the Idea and Product Development i.e., to actively promote and support the development of new ideas and products, providing guidance, and resources needed to refine and bring these innovations to market. The center also provides seed funding in order to promote learning by doing mindset.
Maitreyi Innovation and Startup Policy:
National Innovation and Startup Policy (NISP), the Maitreyi Innovation and Startup Policy policy aims to build an entrepreneurial culture in the campus and carve out skilled entrepreneurs for the future. The policy provides guidelines and framework for the functioning of the Entrepreneurship Cell.
1. StayMentor Initiative: StayMentor, an initiative under the Meraki E-Cell of Maitreyi College, was designed to assist students and their families in finding safe, reliable, and convenient paying guest (PG) accommodations in the vicinity of the college. With an emphasis on providing secure and trustworthy housing solutions, the initiative reached out to a broad audience through various channels including Google Forms, on-campus support by interns, email campaigns, and website promotions.
Collaborations and Impact: The initiative successfully established collaborations with six paying guest accommodations, including four new partnerships and two renewed alliances that recognized StayMentor’s credibility and past achievements. Through these efforts, StayMentor provided direct assistance to 85 families from Maitreyi College, supporting them in securing suitable accommodation. Additionally, the team engaged in communication and support activities benefiting 564 students and parents, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience for all involved.
Financial Achievements: StayMentor’s operations resulted in a revenue of ₹3 lakh, with a remarkable profit of ₹1.85 lakh. These financial achievements highlight the initiative’s effectiveness in addressing a critical need while maintaining a sustainable model.
Empowering Women Through Internships
One of the standout accomplishments of StayMentor was its contribution to empowering women. The initiative created internship opportunities for seven young women, each of whom earned over ₹10,000, gaining not just financial independence but also valuable professional experience.
Conclusion: StayMentor exemplifies the values of community support and innovation. By bridging the gap between students’ housing needs and trusted service providers, it has set a benchmark for similar initiatives. Beyond its financial success, the initiative’s impact on the lives of students, parents, and young women showcases its commitment to creating meaningful change.
2. Startup Bazaar: Initiated in 2023, this initiative is a monthly Business-Stall model working to support startups in its incubation program by providing them with dedicated spaces on campus to showcase and sell their products and services directly to the public. The program allows startups to engage with customers, gather real-time feedback, and refine their offerings. The initiative's success was highlighted by impressive sales, reaching over INR 3,32,000, demonstrating the significant impact of small-scale efforts. The program, in addition to boosting the confidence of startups, has also reinforced Meraki’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
3. Entrescope: The Entrepreneurship Summit: Entrescope is an annual two-day Entrepreneurship Summit organized by Meraki since 2020, which offers a vibrant platform for thought-provoking discussions, inspiring speaker sessions, and a diverse array of academic and non-academic events across the University of Delhi. With a focus on fostering creativity and inculcating positive change, the upcoming E-Summit 25 aspires to elevate these ideals even further.
4. Hackathons: An inter/ intra level competition/ challenges organized to reward best ideas. The primary goal of hackathons is to explore innovative ideas and promote early stage entrepreneurs.
