VISTARA 2026 Brings Together Startup Leaders and Entrepreneurs at Sahyadri…
Mangaluru, July 7: SHINE Foundation, under the Karnataka Acceleration Network (KAN) initiative, successfully organised VISTARA 2026 – Open House Session & Workshop with Industry Leaders on July 6 and 7 at Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru. The two-day programme served as a dynamic platform for startups, entrepreneurs, students, investors, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations, and accelerate entrepreneurial growth.
More than 55 startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, students, and ecosystem enablers participated in the event, which featured interactive sessions led by seven renowned industry experts. The workshop focused on practical strategies for startup growth, fundraising, business scalability, investor readiness, regulatory compliance, and financial planning.
The event was inaugurated in the presence of CS Manu Francis, Rohith Ananth, Krishna Hegde, Dr. S. S. Injaganeri, Nanjunda Pratap Palecanda, Bharath Oswal, and Johnson Tellis, marking the beginning of two days of insightful discussions and knowledge-sharing.
The expert sessions included CS Manu Francis on startup valuation and fundraising, Nanjunda Pratap Palecanda on building scalable businesses, Bharath Oswal on investor readiness, marketing and brand positioning, S. L. Sriram on quality management systems and regulatory frameworks, and CA Gautham Pai D on financial strategies and capital access.
The programme also featured special addresses by Mr. Suvin, Program Head, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and Mr. Vaishak Pai, Cluster Head, Mangaluru, KDEM. Both speakers emphasised the importance of strengthening Karnataka’s startup ecosystem beyond Bengaluru by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across regional centres.
Participants gained valuable insights into startup valuation, fundraising, investor engagement, financial planning, regulatory compliance, and sustainable business growth. The event also facilitated meaningful networking among founders, mentors, investors, and industry leaders, helping establish stronger regional innovation networks and future collaboration opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, organisers noted that VISTARA 2026 reaffirmed SHINE Foundation’s commitment to nurturing startups by providing access to industry expertise, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities essential for building successful and sustainable enterprises.
The event was supported by leading startup ecosystem partners including the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), K-Tech, Beyond Bengaluru, Startup Karnataka, DERBI Foundation, SHINE Foundation, and Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management.
Among the prominent experts who participated were Rohith Ananth, Founder & CEO, GHC Growth Lab; CS Manu Francis, Senior Investment Analyst, July Ventures; Nanjunda Pratap Palecanda, Founder, Nija Venture Impacts Pvt. Ltd.; Sanjeev Chitre, Founder and Managing Partner, The U-Group LLC; Bharath Oswal, Vice Chairman, JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation; S. L. Sriram, Business Consultant, MeDStrat Innovations; and CA Gautham Pai D, Partner, M. Jagannath Kamath & Co.
