Sahyadri College launches ACIC to support startups in Coastal Karnataka

Coastal Karnataka is set to benefit from a new startup support platform launched by Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management in Mangaluru. The Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC) Sahyadri Foundation, inaugurated on September 8, 2026, aims to help local innovators, entrepreneurs, students, and startups transform ideas into commercial ventures. Supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under the NITI Aayog, the centre will provide infrastructure, mentorship, technical expertise, and access to government funding.

The ACIC Sahyadri will offer end-to-end support from idea discovery to scaling, covering traditional and emerging sectors like fishing, arecanut farming, small-scale manufacturing, and high-technology ventures. It will focus on four key areas: healthtech, deeptech agritech, rural innovation, and the blue economy; climate tech, sustainability, and the circular economy; and tourism, culture, heritage, and the creative economy.

The centre will leverage Sahyadri College's laboratories, technical infrastructure, and mentorship ecosystem to address local challenges and drive technological and entrepreneurial solutions.

Speaking at the inauguration, Deepakshi Jindal, from the Atal Innovation Mission, emphasized the significant potential for innovation in Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 regions through local industries, tourism, crafts, and grassroots economies. Captain Ganesh Karnik, an Army Veteran and former MLC, encouraged students to develop problem-solving skills and identify community-specific challenges.

Sahyadri College Director Dr. Manjappa Sarathy highlighted the institution's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, while Principal Dr. S.S. Injaganeri stressed the importance of faculty mentorship and government support in nurturing ventures. With ACIC Sahyadri, Sahyadri College aims to extend its support beyond the campus to entrepreneurs and communities across Coastal Karnataka, ultimately helping local innovators create livelihood opportunities in the region.