Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) Connect

An IEEE & Lemelson Foundation initiative · Inaugural India Cohort

18 July 2026

Join Us (Virtual)↗

View Objectives

Date

18 July 2026

Venue

IIIT, Bangalore

Who

100 mentees · mentors · advisors

Agenda

View the full-day schedule09:00 – 19:00 · 17 sessions

09:00 – 09:10

Welcome remarks

Local organizers & hosts
Prof. Debabrata Das, IIIT Bangalore Director and COMET CEO Sridhar P., Prasant Mishra, Bangalore Section Chair
09:10 – 09:25

Introduction & setting the stage

1. CTU-FNEM Co-Chairs – Ashutosh Dutta, Sudhir Dixit, Ruolin Zhou
2. FDC Chair – Rakesh Kumar
09:25 – 09:50

Keynote / invited talk

Murty Polavarapu
President, IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT)
09:50 – 10:15

Keynote / invited talk

IEEE MOVE – Chengappa M.R.
10:15 – 11:15

Module 1: Fundamentals of Technological Entrepreneurship

1. Dr. Balachandran, CEO of Atal Incubation Center, (AIC-ACE)
2. Vipin Sharma, Founder & Telecom Professional
3. Mr. Trivikram Prasad, Founder & CEO, AlphaNimble Technologies

4. Mr. Anirban Chowdhury, SRM University
11:15 – 11:30

Tea Break
11:30 – 12:30

Module 2: Technology Skills Development

1. Gokul Prakash Thillai Govindan, Associate Vice President, INFINITE
2. Navin Kumar, Professor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru
12:30 – 12:50

IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA)

Sandeep Agrawal, CDOT
12:50 – 13:20

Keynote / invited talk

Dilip Krishnaswamy – CDOT
13:20 – 14:00

Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00

Module 3: Business Skills Development

1. Madan Mohan Rao, MXR
2. Ravindra Krishnappa, Partner, July Ventures
3. Gaurav Vaid, Chairperson, CEEDS Council
3. Manu Mathew, Managing Director at Electro Fibres
15:00 – 16:00

Module 4: Community & User Engagement

1. Shreelata Krishnan, Director, SPG
2. Subha Mahata, Vice President – Talent Accelerator, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
3. Amit Mishra, Head – Startup & VC Relations, Yotta Data Services
16:00 – 16:15

Tea / Coffee break
16:15 – 16:45

Module 5: Local Context & Regulatory Navigation

1. Prasanth Sugathan, Managing Partner, Sugathan & Associates
2. Sandeep Agrawal, CDOT
16:45 – 18:15

Interactive Panel Discussion

1. Dilip Krishnaswamy
2. Tom Coughlin
3. Gnanapriya, Navin Kumar
4. Ranga Rao,
5. Prasant Mishra
18:15 – 18:30

Concluding Remarks

CTU Chairs
18:30 – 19:00

High Tea

All

The 1st cohort of the Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) will be hosted at IIIT Bangalore on 18th July 2026. FNEM Connect is a meet-up that brings together 100 mentees (technological innovators), mentors, advisors, entrepreneurs and like-minded experts from industry, investors, academia and other institutions.

The FNEM is a global initiative of the IEEE and the Lemelson Foundation. The event introduces the FNEM initiative and its mission of supporting 100 mentees — technological innovators, particularly those developing hardware-based solutions with potential social and economic impact.

Prospective mentees — including innovators, early-stage entrepreneurs, students, and researchers-turned-entrepreneurs — will learn how they can benefit from the structured mentorship, technical guidance, and ecosystem access offered through the FNEM program.

FNEM Connect is envisioned as a catalyst for building a vibrant community of innovators and mentors committed to advancing technology for societal impact and strengthening India’s technological entrepreneurship ecosystem.

★ Special On-Site Attraction

Experience the IEEE MOVE India Truck Live!

We are excited to announce that the revolutionary IEEE MOVE India Mobile Outreach Vehicle will be stationed live at the event venue! This provides an exclusive opportunity for attendees to witness state-of-the-art engineering up close.

As the first deployment of its kind outside the United States, this custom vehicle features a robust dual-humanitarian framework: delivering hands-on STEM education to local communities while serving as an emergency relief hub with communication and power support during disasters.

Attendees can take an interactive tour of the truck to explore its professionally engineered hybrid solar solution supplying up to 30 hours of power, a field-grade communication suite featuring Wi-Fi 6e, 4G, and HAM radio setups, and sustainability toolkits. Learn more about the initiative at ieeemove.in.

IEEE MOVE India Vehicle Exterior and Solar Setup

IEEE MOVE India Truck STEM Engagement and Outreach Design

What to expect

- Keynote talks

- Panel discussions

- Startup success stories

- Networking sessions

- Emerging tech & future-networks insights

The day also highlights opportunities for collaboration among universities, research institutions, industry partners, investors, and development organizations.

Objectives

- Introduce the IEEE FNEM program to mentees, mentors, academia, industry leaders, and ecosystem stakeholders — highlighting its vision, offerings, and opportunities for technological innovators in India.

- Connect mentors and prospective mentees through a platform for interaction, networking, and knowledge exchange that forms the foundation for future mentor–mentee engagements.

- Launch the FNEM mentorship journey by orienting selected participants on the program structure, expectations, learning pathways, and support mechanisms.

- Showcase innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for hardware and technology innovators, including technical expertise, business guidance, ecosystem partnerships, and growth opportunities.

- Strengthen collaboration across the innovation ecosystem — academia, industry, startups, investors, incubators, and development organizations.

- Create awareness about resources available to innovators: mentorship, incubation, funding, standards development, technology validation, and market access.

- Build a community of practice for technological entrepreneurship that encourages continuous learning, peer-to-peer collaboration, and long-term engagement.

- Identify and onboard potential mentees and mentors for upcoming FNEM cohorts, supporting the next generation of technology-driven entrepreneurs and hardware innovators in India.

About the FNEM Program

The IEEE Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) is a 1000-day LAMP (Learning, Action, Mentorship & Practice) journey for technological innovators, concept builders, novice entrepreneurs, and early- to growth-stage startups — offering guidance in the skills that grow a business (finance, market segments, user approach, risk and mitigation planning, long-term vision, and more).