Media Release
Mangalruu, Jul 12: SHINE Foundation successfully organised VISTARA 2026 – Open House Session & Workshop with Industry Leaders on 6th & 7th July 2026 at Sahyadri Campus, Mangaluru, under the Karnataka Acceleration Network (KAN) initiative.
The two-day event brought together 55+ startup founders, entrepreneurs, students, ecosystem enablers, and aspiring innovators, creating a vibrant platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and entrepreneurial growth. The workshop featured 7 distinguished industry leaders, who shared practical insights drawn from their entrepreneurial, investment, and business leadership experiences.
The event was inaugurated in the presence of CS Manu Francis, Rohith Ananth, Krishna Hegde, Dr S S Injaganeri, Nanjunda Pratap Palecanda, Bharath Oswal, Johnson Tellis marking the beginning of two days of engaging discussions and impactful learning.
Expert sessions
• CS Manu Francis – Decoding Startup Valuation & Fundraising
• Nanjunda Pratap Palecanda – What Does It Take to Build a Scalable Business?
• Bharath Oswal – Investor Readiness, Marketing & Brand Positioning
• S.L. Sriram – QMS & Regulatory Framework
• CA Gautham Pai D – Financial Strategies & Capital Access
The event also featured special addresses by Suvin, KAN program head, KDEM, and Vaishak Pai, Mangaluru cluster head, KDEM, highlighting the importance of strengthening Karnataka's startup ecosystem beyond Bengaluru.
Key outcomes:
- Enhanced understanding of startup valuation and fundraising.
- Improved investor readiness and market positioning strategies.
- Practical insights into building scalable and sustainable businesses.
- Awareness of regulatory frameworks and quality management systems.
- Financial planning and capital access strategies for growth-stage startups.
- Meaningful networking opportunities between founders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
- Stronger connections within the regional innovation ecosystem, paving the way for future collaborations.
VISTARA 2026 reaffirmed SHINE Foundation's commitment to empowering startups by connecting them with experienced industry leaders and creating opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and sustainable business growth.
Startup Ecosystem Partners are Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) | K-Tech | Beyond Bengaluru | Startup Karnataka | DERBI Foundation | SHINE Foundation | Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management
Experts on VISTARA 2026
Rohith Ananth - founder & CEO, GHC Growth Lab, C S Manu Francis - senior analyst investment s, July Ventures, Nanjunda Pratap Palecanda - founder, Nija Venture Impacts Pvt. Ltd., Sanjeev Chitre - founder and managing partner of The U-Group LLC , Bharath Oswal - vice chairman, JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation, SL Sriram - business consultant, MeDStrat Innovations, and CA Gautham Pai D - partner, M Jagannath Kamath & Co.