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“Dr. Patel introduced the country to Entrepreneurship when people had
no clue about its potential. Dr. Patel held on to the belief and persisted
till he proved to the world that training and mentoring could create
successful entrepreneurs, and that there was no truth in the fact that
entrepreneurship was a privilege of only a few. Dr. Patel's contribution
to the domain of entrepreneurship is unparalleled. He not just created a
knowledge infrastructure but also raised the motivation of people and
changed mindsets of people in favour of entrepreneurship.”

National Entrepreneur Trainer-Motivator Award

On this occasion, the winner of the Dr. V.G. Patel National Award for Entrepreneurship
Trainer/Educator/Mentor 2023 was also announced. This year 469 nominations were
received. These were reviewed by the a high-level Award Committee that followed a
three-tier selection process based on critical evaluation parameters and personal
interview. The award comprises a citation and cash prize. The Selection Committee
comprised:

The winner of 2024 was
Dr. Dipak Uttamrao Tatpuje, Founder and Research
Advisor, Vidyadeep Foundation, Satara, Maharashtra

Prof. Dr. Dipak Tatpuje has over 40 years of experience
in the field of entrepreneurial education & training,
project consulting, and research projects at national
and international levels. He has completed more than
17 projects with national and international organizations like UNESCO-Bangkok, United Nations
Development Program (UNDP), Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology, and
Mathematics Educators (CASTME-Asia), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. He
founded VidyaDeep Foundation in November 2004. He is also a much acclaimed and awarded
serial social entrepreneur.

Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to:
1. Dr. Vijayashree Lakshman, Head - Innovations, Chief Co-Ordinator-NewGen IEDC,
BNM Institute of Technology, Bangalore

Dr. Lakshman has Harvard certification in Innovation & Design Thinking. She has designed
Courses and executed across Karnataka. Recipient of 7 Design Patents and 1 copyright
grant, she has also created 5 Centers of Excellence inside the BNMIT campus and has
adopted a village to inculcate design thinking with social concerns.
2. Dr. Abhishek Pareek, Chief Executive Officer, Atal Incubation Centre, Banasthali
Vidyapith, Rajasthan

Dr. Abhishek Pareek has over 17 years of experience in Risk Management & Working
Capital Finance across sectors/geographies, giving him a good understanding of the
needs and requirements of businesses across sectors. He has supported several
businesses, ensuring that they become sustainable.

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