E-Cell and Startup Cell

The Entrepreneurship Initiative Cell

The Entrepreneurship Initiative Cell E-Cell Yukta, a student-run non-profit organization at MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune, is dedicated to nurturing women engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset. Grounded in the conviction that “Empowered Women, Empower the World,” we provide a dynamic launchpad for ambitious women to lead, innovate, and turn ideas into reality. Through flagship initiatives like our annual summit Empulse, along with speaker sessions, hands-on workshops, and competitive challenges, we equip aspiring student founders with essential business skills, real-world industry exposure, and a supportive network.

Since our inception in 2018, E-Cell Yukta has continually expanded its footprint in the student startup ecosystem. We actively connect budding entrepreneurs with top industry leaders, key funding channels, and tailored mentorship programs to help scale their ventures. Demonstrating our growing impact on a national level, E-Cell Yukta participated in the National Entrepreneurship Challenge (NEC) organized by IIT Bombay and secured an All India Rank (AIR) 19 in NEC 2025 among participating institutions across the country.

Driven by innovation, E-Cell Yukta hosts high-impact events year-round to test critical business leadership. During our college’s annual tech fest, we organize Founder Courtroom, a courtroom-style startup ethics challenge. Meanwhile, our own flagship summit, Empulse, brings together key events like The Venture Voyage (Business Hackathon), Investify, and the Startup Showcase, while hosting an inter-college E-Cell Meetup that unites E-Cells from across Pune to strengthen the regional student startup ecosystem. Together, we are fueling the future of women entrepreneurs!

Ecell Yukta ’26-’27 Core Team –

Prof. Sneha Singh Gaikwad – Faculty Advisor

Maitreyi Pawar – Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Bhargavi Kesarkar – Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Vibha Mawal – Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Aaditti Diwate – Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Nidhi Patil – Chief Branding Officer (CBO)
Zahara Bohari – Technical Head
Shruti Mote – Operations Head
Pranjali Pawar – Events Head
Utkarsha Patil – Finance Head
Lekha Shah – Public Relations & Marketing Head
Sayali Shirode – Content Head
Janhavi Khare – Social Media Head
Piu Maji – Design Head

 

Startup and Innovation Cell

A Start-up & Innovation Cell, is supported by the Incubation Centre of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). The cell includes alumni entrepreneurs and industry experts to provide useful inputs to budding entrepreneurs. To promote innovation and self-reliance among our students through startup initiatives, we have developed a conducive environment with various initiatives. We conducts various activities including a business idea competition every year with cash prizes of a total of Rs. 10000 are awarded to the winners. Student entrepreneur bagged many awards at various competitions. Various talks and workshops are conducted to promote innovation and entrepreneurial skills among the students.

These initiatives with planting the seeds of innovation and startup among students will fetch further rewards in the coming years with more women startups with employment generation for the nation.

Team Members involved:

Staff Members:
Head : Dr. Makarand Velankar
Faculty co-ordinator: Dr. Seema Rajput

Staff team members:

  1. Malini Bapat
  2. Swati Madhe
  3. Anjali Naik
  4. Sunita Jahirabadkar
  5. Partima Kulkarni
  6. Mrudul Dixit

Student Team:
Chairman – Anjali Tiwary
Vice Chairman – Riya Sathe

Position Executive TeamDesign TeamDocumentation Team
Team LeadSrushti SonawaneYashita KilledarSajadaa Shah
Member 1Shreya SomwanshiPriya WaykosVedika Kamane
Member 2Jayeti PatilDiya ChouguleAditi Ganpatil
Entrepro Pre-Incubation Center (EPIC)

EPIC, the Pre-Incubation Center provides necessary support to budding entrepreneurs and startups. The mentoring support is provided from Idea to starting a business venture. The center has a pool of experts in different domains and helps the entrepreneurs to build sustainable and scalable startups.

Offerings: 

  • Exposure to Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, and the startup world.
  • Training, Guidance, and personalized Mentoring from Domain Experts.
  • Assistance from idea to MVP validation and Pitch deck.
  • Make you ready for launching a venture in the market.
  • Developing Strategies for Branding, Marketing, and IP.
  • Networking Opportunities.

Benefits: 

  • Working on a startup idea provides a lifelong learning experience
  • Develop confidence and never give up attitude
  • Empowerment and independence with desired skills and knowledge

Start up initiated by Entrepro Pre-Incubation Cente (EPIC) – CCOEW

Contact for more info: 

Makarand Velankar.

Head, Entrepro Pre-Incubation Center (EPIC)

email: epic@cumminscollege.in

 

 

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