In collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Cell, the Incubation Center hosted a seminar on ‘Mantrika.AI’ and ‘Next New Studio’.

The Incubation Center, in association with the Entrepreneurship Development Cell of Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), hosted a transformative seminar on “Mantrika.AI – The Career Incubator” and “Next New Venture Studio – An Innovation Accelerator” on Thursday. The event, which saw the participation of over 400 faculty and students, featured a powerful keynote address by Mr. Sreekanth K. Arimanithaya, a distinguished industry leader who serves as the CEO of Xarpie Labs, Bangalore, and the Managing Director of IndiVillage Tech Solutions, Udupi.

Mr. Arimanithaya captivated the audience by beginning with his signature philosophy: “Manage energy, not time.” He emphasized the critical role of managing four key energy types—physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual—arguing that in times of profound disruption, a person’s mindset takes precedence over mere skillsets. He asserted, “The future of education is not about feeding minds with answers—it’s about awakening minds with questions, courage, and the curiosity to create what does not yet exist.” His core message was a call to shift from rote learning to inspired, bold thinking.

Illustrating his point with a graph that traced the history of steam engines, Arimanithaya demonstrated how the convergence of various technologies is currently driving an accelerated global revolution. He pointed to significant trends like China mandating ChatGPT usage and the rapid evolution from e-commerce to quick commerce as evidence of this fast-paced change.

Challenging the students directly with the questions, “Who wants to be an entrepreneur? Who an intrapreneur?” he highlighted that India is now home to over 1,17,000 startups. He stressed that sustainable growth in this dynamic landscape depends entirely on cultivating a purpose-driven mindset, exploring various growth frameworks like the Exponential, Moonshot, Longevity, and Abundance mindsets.

During the session, Mr. Arimanithaya unveiled two groundbreaking initiatives. The first, Mantrika.AI, is an AI-powered career incubator designed to build detailed user profiles, identify skill gaps, and provide a comprehensive assessment report to guide professional development. The second, Next New Venture Studio, is an innovation accelerator that showcases cutting-edge applications in autonomous technology, robotics (featuring the Rhia robot), digital assets, fintech, space exploration, defense, agritech, and foodtech.

He left the attendees with a powerful and memorable takeaway: “Purpose plus passion equals impact.” His closing call to action urged students and faculty to cultivate an energy-first, purpose-driven mindset to thrive as the next generation of innovators and leaders in our rapidly evolving world.

Dr. Radhakrishna S. Aithal, CEO of Sri Sode Vadiraja Mutt Education Trust (SSVMET), delivered the presidential remarks. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. Thirumaleshwara Bhat, Principal, along with Deans, Heads of Departments, faculty, and staff of SMVITM.