In-verse empowers artists to transform creativity into sustainable careers. Join us in fostering innovation and artistic expression!
2024-2025
Entrepreneurship Cell IIT Madras (E-Cell IITM) is one of the most successful student-run, non-profit organizations, positioned at the heart of India's startup ecosystem. Since 1988, we have been the driving force behind India’s startup boom, enabling students to turn ideas into groundbreaking ventures, becoming the first to host an ISO certified E-Summit in the country.
We are dedicated to nurture a culture of entrepreneurship that extends beyond the creation of startups. We empower young minds to drive innovation and address societal needs through our initiatives such as hackathons, mentorship programs, bootcamps, workshops, startup series, intern fairs, business planning competition, and social campaigns.
Our vision is to inspire young minds to embrace entrepreneurship and drive India's socio-economic growth.
E-Cell IIT Madras is delighted to launch its social campaign for the year 2024-25, In-verse. This campaign aims to empower the creative art sector and elevate the arts in a competitive landscape. We envision a future where innovation and artistic expression thrive side by side, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for artists to transform their ideas into sustainable ventures. We dream of a future where artists are empowered to pursue their passions as sustainable careers.
In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals are stepping away from their artistic passions and settling for lifestyles that don’t align with their true interests. This shift is frequently driven by factors such as a lack of knowledge about how to turn art into a career, financial instability, and the societal pressure to choose more secure career paths. As a result, many talented individuals abandon their dreams in favor of more secure but unfulfilling options.
Art Entrepreneurship shows that art can be more than just a passion—it can be a sustainable career by providing the right tools, mentorship, and business insights. This allows artists to pursue their passion while making a living, proving that art and entrepreneurship can coexist successfully.
In today's society, the value of art and the lives of artists are often overlooked. By integrating entrepreneurship with art, we empower artists to enhance their livelihoods and gain the recognition they deserve. This approach enables them to transform their passion into sustainable careers, paving the way for financial stability and broader opportunities, all while preserving the beauty of art.
Many artists, particularly from marginalized communities, struggle with digital literacy and lack the resources to effectively navigate online platforms.
There is a pressing need to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among artists, fostering economic growth and inspiring social change, while also enhancing their personal fulfillment and well-being.
Societal pressures often push individuals toward more traditional career paths, limiting their ability to pursue their artistic passions. We aim to help them realize that art can be a viable career when paired with entrepreneurship.
Art is more than just creativity; it is a career path, a passion, and a profound form of expression. This campaign celebrates the diverse roles art can play in our lives.
To help artists who are unfamiliar with online selling platforms, thrive in the digital age by providing comprehensive training in digital marketing, online selling platforms, and branding. We aim to equip artists with the skills necessary to navigate the online marketplace effectively. This will enable them to showcase their art products to a wider audience, establish a strong online presence, and drive increased sales.
This initiative aims to inspire and educate young students about the potential career paths within the arts and crafts industry. By visiting a specialized art and crafts market, students will have the opportunity to interact with artists, learn about entrepreneurial aspects of the field, and explore the diverse range of art forms available.
A unique initiative that combines art, education, and corporate responsibility. Participants creatively represent companies and their values through artwork, which is then auctioned. This initiative fosters creativity, community engagement, and awareness of sustainable business practices, while providing a platform for artists to showcase their work and explore entrepreneurial opportunities.
This initiative connects art startups with investors to foster innovation in the creative sector. Through two rounds of shortlisting, we evaluate submissions on creativity and feasibility, providing valuable feedback for final presentations. Selected startups pitch directly to a panel of VCs, aiming to secure funding and nurture artistic entrepreneurship. Our initiative bridges the gap between visionaries and financial backers, creating significant social and economic impact.
To inspire and guide aspiring artists on their creative journey. Through a podcast series featuring interviews with successful creatives, we aim to provide valuable insights and motivation. With millions in the arts, many go unnoticed, but through this initiative, young minds can learn what it takes to succeed. By gaining insights from seasoned artists through podcasts, they can refine their path and thrive. Alchemy empowers the next generation of artists to realize their full potential and thrive in the world of art.
To foster a thriving ecosystem for artists and creative professionals by providing a platform for artists to showcase their work. We aim to empower them to pursue their artistic passions as sustainable careers. The expo will feature a curated selection of artworks from emerging and established artists, as well as networking opportunities to equip artists with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of the art market.
In association with NITI Aayog, E-21 empowered school students with 21st-century skills through mentoring, conducting workshops, and group discussions. The campaign was later adopted by the Tamil Nadu government under Tamil Nadu Ilam Innovators’ Challenge initiative(TNIIC) scheme.
D-Well or digital wellbeing was introduced in 2018 in an effort to overcome digital distractions and also make effective use of digital technology and digital media to enhance their lives/careers/businesses. This campaign aimed to help small-scale businesses leverage digital media and technology to enhance their business models. Conducting workshops, panel discussions and talks on various online business opportunitues by professional experts.
Pankh was launched during the pandemic 2020, Pankh aimed to build a sustainable MSME ecosystem in India. By engaging the youth through competitions and sessions while bringing attention to and finding solutions for industry-specific problems, it addressed sector-specific challenges, helping MSMEs thrive during difficult times.
The Suspire campaign was focused on promoting sustainable entrepreneurship. Its goal was to educate people about the importance of sustainability while empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through multiple competitions, it engaged over 1100+ students and led to the planting of more than 500 trees across India, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental consciousness and youth involvement.
The Heal-Thy campaign aimed to redefine the concept of sustainability, encouraging collaboration for a better future. It sought to inspire entrepreneurs to shape a sustainable world, ensuring that essential resources were preserved while fostering innovation. This campaign highlighted the importance of balancing sustainability with progress, making it a key part of entrepreneurship.
The campaign UDAAN aimed to foster entrepreneurship in Rural India. Its goal was to empower rural entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and communities, addressing challenges like limited market access and technology. It contributed to the economic development of Rural India through consulting services for rural businesses, promoting entrepreneurship education through radio, and recognizing rural start-ups. UDAAN also focuses on women’s empowerment, bridging gaps between NGOs and larger foundations for long-term partnerships.
AIRTEL
HDFC BANK
AMAZON WEB SERVICES
GOOGLE CLOUD
HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM
KINDLE VC
ARTHA VENTURE FUND
DIGITAL INDIA
IESA
CYMORG
AGRI10
UNION BANK
IITM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
SMART BRIDGE
DAVID PARRISH
IITM INCUBATION CELL
SCHOOL OF DESIGN THINKING
PLM
FinST₹EET
FINSTREET
L&T REALTY
SPECIALE INVEST
LETS VENTURE
100X.VC
GULLY NETWORKS
UNICORN INDIA VENTURES
EQUANIMITY
T-HUB
STARTUP GRIND
pr_ecell@smail.iitm.ac.in
Pranab Thirumal
: (+91) 8610172498
Sakshi Talapade
: (+91) 9823169177