The Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, in association with the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), organized an Outreach Program titled “Session on Angel & VC Funding for Early-Stage Founders” on 19th August 2026 at 3:00 PM in the AC Lab. The program aimed to introduce students to startup financing and the funding opportunities available to early-stage entrepreneurs.

The session was delivered by Prof. Rakesh Mallya, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, who explained the startup funding lifecycle, including bootstrapping, angel investment, venture capital, and funding rounds such as Seed, Series A, and Series B. He also discussed pitch decks, startup valuation, equity dilution, cap tables, term sheets, and due diligence, along with practical tips on approaching investors and building a strong startup. An interactive Q&A session allowed students to clarify their doubts regarding funding, investor negotiations, and developing their startup ideas.

The program was conducted with the support of Dr. Shrinivasa Mayya D, Principal, and under the guidance of Prof. Nagaraja Hebbar N, Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, along with the IIC. The program was organized by Abhishek Manjunath Naik, Shreyank, and Vinish A S, students of the 7th semester. Overall, the session was informative and engaging, contributing to the department’s efforts to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup awareness among students.