AIC RAISE celebrated its 5th Anniversary with the flagship event RAISE CONNECT ’25, held at Rathinam Grand Hall, Coimbatore.
The event brought together innovators, changemakers, and ecosystem leaders to honour five years of impactful entrepreneurship and sustainable progress.
Arun Rajadurai, Director, Innovation and Partnerships, AIC RAISE, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the collective efforts and collaborations that shaped AIC RAISE’s journey.
Sandeep Nanduri, Managing Director of TIDCO, graced as the Chief Guest and addressed the gathering with an inspiring message on the power of innovation in shaping Tamil Nadu’s entrepreneurial future. “Coimbatore is becoming a nerve center for hardware, biotech, and sustainability startups. With initiatives like Bio-InnoSpace and the Co-Manufacturing Hub, AIC RAISE is playing a crucial role in this transformation,” he emphasised.
Nagaraj Balakrishnan, CEO of AIC RAISE, reflected on the journey of building a startup ecosystem from the ground up. He noted, “At AIC RAISE, our journey has been about building inclusive innovation, nurturing purpose-driven startups, and solving real-world problems through sustainable technology. The last five years have shown us the power of collaboration and the urgency of social impact.”
In his Presidential Address, Madan A Sendhil, Chairman of Rathinam Group, stated, “AIC RAISE is more than an incubator; it’s a movement that connects rural ingenuity with global impact. Our commitment is to continuously invest in spaces, infrastructure, and mentorship to empower changemakers,” he said, reinforcing the importance of supporting entrepreneurs from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The Felicitation Address by Manickam, CEO of Rathinam Group, highlighted the significance of collective efforts. “When vision meets execution, transformation happens. AIC RAISE stands as a beacon of that transformation in the startup ecosystem,” he remarked, applauding the role of both government and private sector partnerships in fostering innovation.
Over the last five years, AIC RAISE has supported more than 100 startups, creating tangible impact across social, environmental, and technological domains. RAISE CONNECT ’25 was a celebration of these achievements and a launchpad for new beginnings.
The event witnessed the launch of Bio InnoSpace, a state-of-the-art 3,000 sq. feet biotech innovation hub aimed at accelerating R&D for startups in the life sciences sector. The Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony was also held for the upcoming Rathinam’s Co-Manufacturing Hub, an AICTE initiative in collaboration with MeitY Startup Hub, which will offer shared production facilities for product-focused startups.
During the ceremony, the college signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KIOT College, Salem, which has been designated as a Regional Nodal Center for future programs and events in Salem. This partnership will allow KIOT College to serve as a central hub for entrepreneurship development initiatives in the region.
Additionally, an MoU was signed with Marabhanu, an initiative dedicated to supporting startups from ideation to MVP with a special focus on empowering ventures from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Another key MoU was signed with CA Wala Startups, offering legal and registration assistance to early-stage founders, reinforcing AIC RAISE’s commitment to holistic startup support.
The event also featured the launch of the MBA-IEV program. The prestigious Impactor Awards recognised outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers for their contributions to innovation and societal progress. Furthermore, five new products and one mobile application were launched by incubated startups, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit nurtured at AIC RAISE.
A key highlight was the Seed Fund and Grant Distribution, which recognised and empowered promising startups through the Innovation Voucher Program (IVP), Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) scheme, and CSR grants.
Pradeep Raj MS, AVP, Incubation & Operations, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
