Business Reporter : The Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management (RCOEM) Technology Business Incubator (TBI) Foundation, comes under Ramdeobaba University is a Section 8 not-for-profit company, was created to turn student ideas into real-world startups. Since its start in 2016, the Foundation has rooted over 75+ startups ideas with hands-on mentorship, structured incubation, and access to funding through angel investors, VCs, and government grants. The university aims to empower early-stage entrepreneurs and translate ideas into viable business ventures. What truly stands out is that 15 student ventures received their first investment / funding directly from the university. Among its many success stories, the foundation proudly highlights a few standout ventures that capture the spirit of innovation and ambition nurtured within the university who interacted with mediapersons at the TBI.

 

IRA Industries (Founder - Akshay Shirpurkar): From Internship to Industry Leader, Akshay Shirpurkar’s journey began with an internship under the RGSTC MSME Scheme, but it quickly became much more than that. What started as an idea for a sustainable, high-quality paver block turned into a patented innovation, paving the way for IRA Industries—a startup that’s now manufacturing these eco-friendly blocks on a commercial scale. Akshay’s story is a perfect example of how an internship can lay the foundation for industry-shaping ventures that stand the test of time. Bio Spectronics (Founder: Dr Sangeeta Sammanwar):- From Lab Bench to Life-Saving Breakthroughs, Dr Sangeeta Sammanwar turned her Ph.D. research into Bio Spectronics—a patented blood analyzer designed to make diagnostics more affordable and accessible. Her innovation earned ?20 lakh from the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge (MeitY), Rs 50 lakh from BIRAC, and Rs 7.5 lakh under the NIDHI PRAYAS scheme—demonstrating how academic research can deliver real-world healthcare impact. Mech Help (Founder: Gaurav Chavhan and Ashutosh Dohare) Turning Wrenches into Opportunities. Gaurav Chavhan and Ashutosh Dohare proved what happens when innovation meets necessity with their innovation, Mech Help. It is a digital platform that connects vehicle owners with verified service providers. With an angel investment from a Nagpur-based investor, the startup validated its market potential early.

 

The Imperial Lubricant (Founder: Apurv Dey):- From Research to Real-World Impact, Apurv Dey started his journey with a self-motivated research on advanced lubricants at the university. This led to The Imperial Lubricant—a patented innovation. Today, it powers high-performance solutions for automotive and industrial applications. Apurv’s venture shows how curiosity and innovation can fuel a business and drive success. Sigmatronics Innovations (Founder: Siddharth Mishra):- A passion for automation and technology sparked a business idea—leading Siddharth to launch Sigmatronics, an IoT-based solutions for industrial automation. His work in integrating smart tech into manufacturing reflects the University’s vision of enabling Industry 4.0 solutions through student innovation. ROCCA (Founders: Yash Pande and Sonal Bahilani):- A love for chocolates sparked the creation of ROCCA—a student-led venture that’s now delighting taste buds with handcrafted perfection. ROCCA—a premium chocolate brand that’s winning hearts and headlines nationwide. Proud RBU alumnus Yash Pande and Sonal Bahilani’s brand ROCCA stands as a delicious example of how bold ideas, nurtured in the right environment, can scale beyond anticipations.

 

Backed by ?1.25 crore funding from 100X VC and a feature on popular reality show Shark Tank India, this student-led venture proves that the leap from campus to the national stage is possible, with the right blend of vision, grit, and support. The RCOEM TBI Foundation has been identified as a Host Institution/Business Incubator (HI/BI) by the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, thus emerging as a regional entrepreneurial development centre. It has also been granted a fund under the ASPIRE scheme for the promotion of rural and agro-based startups, further reflecting the University's emphasis on inclusive and sustainable innovation. Chancellor Dr S S Mantha, Vice Chancellor Dr Rajesh Pande, Principal, RCOEM Dr Manoj Chandak and Director of RCOEM TBI Foundation Dr Rupesh Pais were present.