As the start-up capital of India, Bangalore appears to have hit the bull’s eye in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship. For those, who are looking for some guidance on where and how to start, Stanford Graduate School of Business is bringing its Stanford Ignite programme on innovation and entrepreneurship targeted at working professionals as well as post-graduate students in all disciplines in August this year.
The nine-week intensive part-time programme has been modelled after the Stanford Ignite programme offered at Stanford’s Silicon Valley Campus, and will be delivered by 12 Stanford faculty.
Of these, 12 tenure-track faculty members, four will travel to India and deliver the programme in Bangalore, while eight will be available for learning and discussion via videoconferencing.
Growing economy
Speaking about what brings Stanford to Bangalore, Blair Shane, Associate Dean and Chief Marketing officer, Stanford Graduate School of Business, said, “The growing Indian economy, a critical mass of technical managers, who are perfect for this programme, and the culture of Bangalore, which is very much similar to that of Silicon Valley, makes the city a great place to offer this programme,” she said.
The organising team of the programme finds that there is tremendous entrepreneurial activity in Bangalore and hopes to bring the Silicon Valley approach to entrepreneurship through its programme, she said.
Components
The certificate course has two components — lectures and a team project to develop a service or product.
“As this is a part-time programme, we hope the participants can simultaneously start applying what they learn or begin work on their start-up,” said Bethany Coates, director of dean’s office, Global Innovation Programs, Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Intake
Confirming that the Ignite programme would be offered every year from this year, Ms. Shane said that Stanford Graduate School of Business does not plan to set up an off-shore campus in Indian anytime now. “This nine-week programme is the best way we can bring our expertise here,” she said.
The intake for the programme is now set at 30 to 50 seats and the team hopes to take this programme to other cities in India, including Mumbai and New Delhi.
In an attempt to keep the course content connected to the local scenario, the programme will involve mentors, guest lecturers and expert panellists who will bring in the local perspective. The programme will be held on the Infosys campus in Bangalore and the fee is U.S. $ 8,350.
The last date to apply is May 27.
For more details, visit: >www.gsb.stanford.edu/ignite /bangalore .
