On the eve of World Entrepreneurs’ Day 2026, the Research and Entrepreneurship Park (REP) of IIT Bhubaneswar hosted an inspiring interaction with Madan Mohan Mohanka, Chairman of Tega Industries Limited, focusing on perseverance, risk‑taking, and purpose in entrepreneurship.
Welcoming Mohanka, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, emphasised the Institute’s vision of nurturing students as future job creators. He highlighted the ambitious 100 Cube Start‑up Initiative, which aims to mentor 100 startups with valuations exceeding Rs 100 crore each by 2036. The Institute is currently mentoring around 140 startups, compared to just 18 two years ago.
Drawing from his entrepreneurial journey, Mohanka urged young entrepreneurs to embrace failure as a learning opportunity, have faith in their teams, and uphold strong values. He stressed the importance of market understanding, bold decision‑making, and adaptability in global business environments. He also underlined the broader purpose of entrepreneurship — creating sustainable value and giving back to society.
In a significant announcement, Mohanka pledged Rs 2 crore support for establishing a Centre on Mineral Processing at IIT Bhubaneswar, strengthening the Institute’s link between industry expertise and academic capability.
The programme also featured remarks by Prof. B.K. Mishra, Distinguished Visiting Professor, and a vote of thanks by Dr Shantanu Patra. Ahead of the main event, Mohanka interacted with startups on campus, reinforcing IIT Bhubaneswar’s commitment to building a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem.
