City youth bring tech solutions to deal with local problems

When many students from Tier 2 cities like Hubballi-Dharwad try to get lucrative jobs in bigger cities, a few students are setting a trend of trying to offer technological solutions for local problems, and using their ideas to become entrepreneurs here itself.

A couple of years ago, BE students Abarsh M J and Samar A M wanted to participate in 'Terranaut' robotics event held at the BVB College of Engineering & Technology (BVBCET) here, but they found it difficult to get electronic components required to prepare the robotics devices.

It was then that they decided to start their own firm to make electronic components available on the campus itself, and the result is 'Tweak Labs Inc', which not just supplies electronics products to engineering students in the region, but also conducts training programmes.

Utilising the incubation facility provided by the Centre for Technological Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CTIE) at the KLE Technological University (KLETU), the student startup has expanded its business, while its founders have already repaid Rs one lakh loan they had taken to start the firm, and are now making profits too. Now, they are in the final year of BE.

"We not just sell electronic components, but also give warranty and technical support. We conduct training workshops, and we have worked for setting up a laboratory in Chandigarh too. We have an e-commerce website, and we are also planning to open branches at other Tier 2 and 3 cities like Vijayapur," says Mr Adarsh.

Tweak Labs Inc has also developed its own devices.

Smart trolley which generates bills when material in a super market are put inside it, and a digital display board through which videos can be uploaded from distant places are some of the recent devices developed, Mr Samar noted, adding that the plan is to develop the startup into a corporate business.

Digital info

The Startup Street at KLETU's CTIE has several motivating examples like 'Jellycone'. Its co-founder Nikhil Raichur is an MS from London, and the firm has developed 'Prayatr' app when he found that Hubballi-Dharwad lacks digital information, unlike cities like Bengaluru.

"You can get a cab, order food even from a small eatery, and do much more using digital information in Bengaluru, and that was lacking here. 'Prayatr' is an app where you get information about shopping, traveling, interesting places, hotels, halls, and other facilities in the twin cities, and avail the facility. So far, around 60 businessmen have become our subscribers, while this service is free for customers," Mr Nikhil says.

Students also get remuneration when they work with 'Jellycone'.

After Hubballi-Dharwad, the startup plans to expand the service of 'Prayatr' to other Tier 2 cities in the State.