Prototype Validation - Converting Innovation into a Startup

The Department of MBA and MCA Srinivas Institute of Technology Valachil Mangaluru in collaboration with the Institution’s Innovation Council IIC organized a session titled Prototype Validation - Converting Innovation into a Startup on 11th August 2025. The session was conducted by Prof Madhusudhan S Assistant Professor Srinivas Institute of Technology Valachil Mangaluru. Prof Ashwini from MBA Department and Prof Swapnil Pai from MCA Department coordinated the session. The session was conducted for a joint audience of approximately 140 MBA and MCA students. The primary objective was to provide a foundational understanding of how to transition a technical innovation or prototype into a viable business venture. The session aimed to bridge the gap between the technical expertise of MCA students and the business acumen of MBA students highlighting their synergistic relationship in the entrepreneurial process. By focusing on practical steps like market research customer discovery and validating the problem-solution fit the session sought to move students beyond theoretical concepts and equip them with a strategic mindset to evaluate the commercial potential of their ideas before committing significant resources to development. The resource person used real-world examples to illustrate how even a technically sound prototype can fail without proper market validation. The session concluded by reinforcing the critical role of continuous feedback and iteration in the startup journey. The key takeaway for students was that a prototype is not the end goal but rather a tool for learning and validating assumptions. The resource person emphasized that the most successful startups are those that prioritize understanding their customers and adapting their product based on that feedback.