In a unique experiment, Vamnicom invited experts and co-op start-ups at one platform to hone their innovative steps for creating a resilient cooperative eco-system at its Pune Campus last Friday. More than 12 start-ups and renowned experts were present on this occasion.
In a press note the co-op institute says “To give the momentum for Incubation Facilitation for the upcoming cooperative management innovative ideas and business models, VAMNICOM, Pune organized a One Day Ideation Workshop for the Start-ups, Entrepreneurs and Relevant Stakeholders dated 14.07.2023.”
A formal inauguration of the Incubation Facilitation Centre, done by Director, VAMNICOM, Dr. Hema Yadav with experts namely Vinod Paratkar, Founder and Director, Indo Asian Business Advisory, Pune, Ms. Vasanthi Hariprakash, Founder Pickle Jar Media.
A total of 12 Startups from the field of processing and value addition, agricultural Engineering, Water Conservation and Management, Indigenous Food Products, Honey Value Added Products, Vermi compost and Bio fertilizers, Dairy and Dairy value-added Products showcased their products and services and interacted with their innovative steps to make a cooperative ecosystem resilient.
Director, VAMNICOM Dr. Hema Yadav gave the opening remarks in the Ideation Workshop and talked about the upcoming challenges in the cooperative ecosystem and how collective ideas will be the way forward to overcome them with sustainable and viable moves.
The next expert Ms. Vasanthi Hariprakash, founder, Pickle Jar Media spoke about the importance of branding, communication strategies and governance innovative steps in cooperative business models.
The Ideation Workshop ended with the way forward to channelize the cooperative ecosystem and how the startups and entrepreneurs can handhold cooperatives and its stakeholders.
It bears recalling that cooperatives play a major role in India’s economy. With 98% coverage (8.5 lakh cooperative societies, 8,052 cooperatives registered as MSMEs, 81 lakh MSMEs) in rural India, cooperatives are the mainstay of the rural economy ensuring sustainable livelihoods and income for people.
The Co-op sector encompasses diverse fields such as agriculture, dairy, forestry, fisheries, credit and banking, housing and construction, cooperatives in India serve vast sections of society including farmers, women, youth, poor and the marginalized.
When it comes to the challenges in Cooperative Ecosystem, Innovative Business Models focusing Production Management, Finance Management, Marketing Management, Agribusiness Management and Technology Communication will be the step forward to make a resilient and sustainable cooperative ecosystem.