Budding businessmen find opportunities in Coimbatore

In keeping with its stature as an eminent entrepreneurial city, several young entrepreneurs are starting small-scale business ventures in new areas, which goes to point out that Coimbatore is not just a hub of the traditional manufacturing sectors, such as textiles and engineering.

Government schemes, entrepreneurship associations, and the entrepreneurial environment in the region are encouraging many completing their studies to start a business.

Students are encouraged to develop business plans, even start businesses that can be developed to a larger scale.

Family business

S. Jagannathan, consultant of National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), Coimbatore Region, said at least 10 per cent of the student members of the network start their own business after studies. Many of them do not have an established family business. They look at innovative areas. Though several such innovative start-ups develop rapidly in cities such as Bangalore, entrepreneurship among youth is on a growth mode here too. The NEN had agreements with 35 colleges in the region. Faculty training programmes, E-cells, and orientation courses for students are organised by the chapter.

K. Ilango, former president of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Coimbatore, said the city had a large number of youth who started industries after a few years of work experience.

Many products were localised by these units to meet the demands here.

Those aspiring to be an entrepreneur should identify opportunities, prepare business plans and implement the proposal.

A large number of students evince interest in entrepreneurship events in colleges. However, they need to have a feel of entrepreneurship before venturing into it. The opportunities in creative and innovative fields could be tapped more here.

“Mentoring is important for entrepreneurship,” he pointed out. This could be done at a larger level to encourage start ups. Thus, with opportunities, initiatives, and an encouraging environment, aspiring entrepreneurs have the scope to start innovative businesses here.