Start-up fair for student internships from IIT Bombay

The premier technical institute in the country, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) is encouraging students to look at entrepreneurship. According to reports, IIT Bombay will be conducting a start-up fair on Sunday, February 1, 2015, with an aim to help students get internship opportunities at start-up firms. 

It can be recalled that in the last few years, IIT Bombay students have launched successful start-up ventures and the fair will enable students gain internships at start-up firms of their choice. At a later stage, the students can also join them as co-founders. Around 11 start-up companies have registered for the fair.

According to reports, students can interact with the start-ups in the morning session to gather information on their profiles. During the afternoon session, the students can be part of walk-in interviews. The fair is open to second, third year and final-year students, who are yet to find placements. 

It was also reported that the students' media body of the institute had conducted a survey covering around 220 respondents from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 batches. The findings reflect the post-placement problems faced by the students and the flaws in the placement process itself. 

The survey stated that around 88% of IIT Bombay alumni who left their jobs to launch own start-up ventures are satisfied with their decision. Around 40% of the alumni (who were surveyed from the last three batches) switched jobs to move to a different field within a span of three years, including few who quit before completion of one year. Other than changing jobs or starting their own entrepreneurial ventures, few have been pursuing higher education, research or social work as well.