Media Release
Udupi, Aug 21: Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM) proudly inaugurated Mi-TiE – Madhwa Incubator for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a unit of the Sode Vadiraja Foundation (SVF), aimed at fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven economic growth. The inaugural ceremony was held on August 20, at the SMVITM campus. Rathnakumar, chairman of the board of management, Mi-TiE, and secretary of SSVMET, Udupi, inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. The occasion was graced by board members, management, principals of Niraamaya College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, SMVITM institutional coordinators, faculty, and students. The programme was compered by Sowmya Bhat, assistant Prof, ECE department, SMVITM.
The Sode Vadiraja Foundation is registered as a Section 8 company and serves as an umbrella organization of SMVITM that houses the Madhwa Incubator for Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Mi-TiE). With a clear vision to nurture start-ups and translate research and innovation into scalable businesses, the Foundation is poised to become a cornerstone for entrepreneurial and technological development in the region.
Mi-TiE offers comprehensive incubation services including prototyping grants, mentorship, infrastructure support, and accelerator programs, supporting entrepreneurs from ideation to scale-up. The incubator’s core focus is on ventures that demonstrate economic viability, strategic relevance, and strong social impact.
“By fostering an ecosystem that supports innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship, the Foundation will empower young minds to turn bold ideas into transformative ventures that will help not only college students, but this region and beyond,” said Rathnakumar, chairman of the Board of Management, Mi-TiE and secretary of SSVMET, Udupi.
The CEO of Sode Vadiraja Group of Educational Institutes, Dr Radhakrishna S Aithal, also shared the fact that the Incubation Centre's new building premise of 5000 sqft is getting ready by early next year and will be a big factor in promoting the incubation ecosystem on this campus.
Students of SMVITM from the Department of CSE and Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with a student of MGM College showcased a demonstration of a healthcare product being developed at Mi-TiE, led by Prof Chandrashekar Kuthyar, student support coordinator of SMVITM.
The inauguration marked the beginning of a new chapter for SMVITM and the regional innovation landscape. With strong leadership and a vibrant ecosystem, the Sode Vadiraja Foundation and Mi-TiE (Madhwa Incubator for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship) is set to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs, drive impactful research commercialization, and contribute to India’s journey towards a technology-driven future.