Campus Talk: Mumbai University launches 3 innovative masterclasses to boost start-up talent of students
The flagship programmes — SHABARI 1.0, VASUNDHARA 1.0, and SPARK 1.0 — will be held between June and September; they are designed to reflect MU IDEAS' mission to "turn student potential into structured innovation."
3 min read
Interested students can apply through the MU IDEAS portal or contact their college's innovation cell for further details. (Source: File)The University of Mumbai last week announced the launch of three masterclasses under its innovation and incubation arm, MU IDEAS Foundation Incubation Centre, aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial talent among students.
The flagship programmes — SHABARI 1.0, VASUNDHARA 1.0, and SPARK 1.0 — to be held between June and September, will institutionalise start-up education in the university with support through dedicated cohorts and capacity-building series. These masterclasses will entail hands-on exposure, expert mentorship, and structured entrepreneurial training to students.
According to the university, these programmes reflect MU IDEAS’ mission to “turn student potential into structured innovation.”
Highlighting that this is a first-of-its-kind approach, Sachin Laddha, former director of Innovation, Incubation and Linkages at the Mumbai University, said on Tuesday, “The idea behind launching these programmes stemmed from our deep interaction with students across the University of Mumbai. We realised that while there was a growing interest in entrepreneurship, there was an urgent need for structured handholding, inclusive outreach, and foundational capacity-building. Each of these programmes is conceptualized to address a specific gap — from early-stage startup grooming (SHABARI), to nurturing socially inclusive ventures (VASUNDHARA), to enabling basic startup literacy (SPARK). This will democratize innovation.”
SHABARI 1.0: Empowering Early-Stage Student Founders
Launched as a 12-week cohort for early-stage student startups, SHABARI 1.0, which refers to ‘Structured Handholding & Acceleration Bootcamp for Atmanirbhar & Resilient Innovators’, is designed to transform raw ideas into viable ventures. Open to all students across Mumbai University, the programme includes expert-led masterclasses, founder toolkits, and one-on-one mentoring across four thematic areas: startup design, business planning, regulatory awareness, and pitch readiness. On successful completion, selected teams may enter formal pre-incubation at MU IDEAS.
VASUNDHARA 1.0: Driving Inclusive, Grassroots Innovation
Targeted at student innovators from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Vanvasi (tribal) communities, VASUNDHARA 1.0, which stands for ‘Vanvasi and SC Udyami Nurturing Development Hub for Acceleration, Resilience, and Aspiration’, is a dedicated cohort promoting social entrepreneurship. The 12-week hybrid programme focuses on building startups in sectors like education, health, sustainability, and livelihood. It provides tailored mentorship, access to government schemes, and direct linkages to incubation and CSR programs, encouraging equitable innovation at the grassroots level.
SPARK 1.0: Foundational Capacity Building for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
SPARK 1.0 or ‘Startup Preparation, Acceleration, Readiness & Knowledge’ is a masterclass series aimed at building entrepreneurial capacity among students new to the startup ecosystem. Covering 16 expert-led sessions between June and August 2025, it offers practical insights into startup law, funding, team-building, intellectual property, and ethics. Open to all students regardless of prior experience, SPARK also provides toolkits, mentoring windows, and digital certification upon completion.
Interested students can apply through the MU IDEAS portal or contact their college’s innovation cell for further details.
You May Like
Photos
