9th Grade Students Secure Top Position In Dell's ShePreneur Programme

Students from Mysuru’s Excel Public School have emerged as one of the top 10 participants in the ShePreneur Program, a CSR initiative of Dell Technologies in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and the Learning Links Foundation as an implementation partner. The students, Asmita Rao, Deeksha G, and Gahana H Prasad, currently in class IX, presented a millet vending machine for dispensing customized millet malts at the program.

The team competed with 26 other innovative projects presented by teams from all over India to secure the coveted spot. This girl-focused entrepreneurship and AI initiative programme, conceptualised by Dell Technologies, is focused on fostering entrepreneurship and AI among students in India, particularly girls.  

These young 9th graders merged technology and sustainability to create a solution to promote the consumption of the sustainable crop ‘millets’ known for its nutritional value and adaptability to diverse climates. The millet vending machine was first presented at the Atal Innovation Marathon 2023, followed by the Student Innovation Programme conducted by the Learning Links Foundation, which further enabled the students to apply and earn a spot at the boot camp organized by Dell Technologies, – ‘ShePreneur Program’.

The boot camp focused on fostering girl entrepreneurs, which aligns with Dell Technologies’ commitment to diversity and empowerment. This program was conducted in a physical setting from January 10–14, 2024, at the Dell Technologies Domlur campus in Bangalore, where it introduced female students to various aspects of problem-solving, design thinking, product development, branding, and patenting.  

Talking about their experience at the bootcamp, the student entrepreneurs of Excel Public School, Asmita Rao, Deeksha G, and Gahana H Prasad, said, “The ShePreneur program conducted by Dell Technologies brought out the leadership qualities in us and made us think like entrepreneurs.”