Structured Startup Education for Engineering Students: Evidence from SR University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem

An idea, passion, or inspiration often sparked by observing successful people can motivate young individuals to turn their vision into reality. This has fueled the rise of entrepreneurship, where innovation and self-driven ventures are key drivers of economic and social growth. Recognizing the need to nurture job creators instead of job seekers, SR University has strengthened its entrepreneurial ecosystem through its wings NEST (Nest for Entrepreneurship in Science and Technology) and SRiX (SR Innovation Exchange), and by introducing an Entrepreneurship and Startup course in the first year of the B. Tech program. The course guides students from concept to tangible outcomes, focusing on four pillars (1) Problem Statement (2) Value Proposition (3) Business Model Canvas (4) Prototype. A quantitative structured questionnaire was used to assess entrepreneurial knowledge and learning outcomes. A total of 430 valid samples were collected and measured on a 5-point Likert scale across the four pillars, along with student’s overall opinions of the course and expectations from SR University’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Statistical analysis included Cronbach’s Alpha, Descriptive statistics, Correlation, and Multiple regression. Findings reveal increased student confidence, problem-solving, and enthusiasm for innovation. Feedback highlights that early exposure to entrepreneurship fosters longterm interest in venture creation. The study affirms the value of embedding structured entrepreneurship training early in undergraduate education to bridge the gap between ideation and implementation.