VISAKHAPATNAM: EPIC (the student entrepreneurial cell of IIM Visakhapatnam) and IIMV FIELD (the startup incubator of IIM Visakhapatnam) hosted EPICenter 2025, which brought together approximately 500 attendees, including startup founders, entrepreneurs, investors, MSME representatives, students, and industry leaders.
Prof. M. Shameem Jawed, Director of Operations at IIMV FIELD, spoke about the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship and innovation. He explained the journey of IIMV FIELD, highlighting its progress since its inception.
Guhesh Ramanathan, CEO of IIMV FIELD, expressed, “With EPICenter, we aim to energize the startup ecosystem in Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh. IIMV FIELD sees tremendous potential in the students of Andhra Pradesh, but events like this are essential to inspire and mobilize the youth here.”
Mr. K. Vaitheeswaran, Founder of Fabmart & Indiaplaza, emphasized the urgency of taking action, stating, “The right time to start up is now—there’s no such thing as a perfect opportunity.” Mr. Chakradhar Gade, Founder of Country Delight, shared his insights in a session titled “Disrupting the Norm: Challenging Industry Giants.”
A panel discussion, featuring Mr. Aprameya Radhakrishna (Founder of Koo & TaxiForSure) and Mr. K. Vaitheeswaran, focused on “Essential Lessons from Founders Who Turned Setbacks into Success.” Mr. Aprameya highlighted the importance of adaptability, stating, “Understanding what customers really want is the hardest part—founders must be ready to pivot based on evolving needs.”
Another panel discussion, led by Mr. Vijay Singh Rathore, Co-founder of Soonicorn Ventures, and Mr. Siddharth Sirigeri, Managing General Partner at Endurance Capital, addressed “How VCs Drive Funding, Learning, and Growth Across the Startup Journey.” Mr. Siddharth emphasized balance, noting, “Founders must prioritize their personal health as much as their business health—sustainable success comes from taking care of both.”
An Ask Me Anything session allowed attendees to engage directly with the guest speakers, discussing startup challenges, scaling strategies, and trends in innovation.
The event culminated with the announcement of three winners from over 50 teams across India in the Epivault 2.0 competition, which showcased the best in innovation and startup ideas.
EPICenter 2025 is a testament to IIM Visakhapatnam’s commitment to building a robust startup ecosystem. IIMV FIELD has incubated over 175 startups across 30+ sectors in India, providing mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities to early-stage ventures.
