‘Made in JIS – Celebrity Edition 2026’ brought together young innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs and industry leaders for an engaging exchange on entrepreneurship, innovation and the evolving creator economy at the JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, Austin Tower, New Town, Kolkata.
The event featured Mr. Sharan Hegde, Founder & CEO of The 1% Club, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honouree and one of India’s most influential personal finance creators. With a community of over seven million followers across platforms, Sharan has played a significant role in making financial literacy more accessible to young Indians. His entrepreneurial journey has also marked a significant milestone for India’s creator economy, with The 1% Club, becoming the first finfluencer-led firm in India to secure formal SEBI licences as a Registered Investment Advisor and Research Analyst. The event also featured distinguished industry voices including Mr. Amitabh Ray, Former Vice President, Ericsson; Mr. Ankit Agarwal, Director, GTPL KCBPL and Founder, Blob; Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director, JIS Group and Ms. Jaspreet Kaur, Director – Corporate Relations, JIS, who shared their perspectives on leadership, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship with the student community.
During his special session, Sharan took students through his transition from building a digital community to establishing a venture-backed financial edtech enterprise. His interaction offered young entrepreneurs valuable insights into creator-led businesses, financial education, personal branding, community building and the process of transforming digital influence into a sustainable and scalable venture.
The session also explored the rapidly evolving creator economy and the opportunities emerging at the intersection of content, entrepreneurship and technology. Sharan’s journey offered students a first-hand perspective on how a strong digital community can evolve into a credible business ecosystem when supported by vision, innovation and entrepreneurial discipline.
An annual flagship initiative of the JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, Made in JIS is designed to develop a culture of entrepreneurship by connecting students with founders, industry leaders, investors and mentors. The platform provides aspiring entrepreneurs with opportunities for incubation, mentorship, networking and meaningful exposure to the startup ecosystem, while creating a space for student-led ideas and ventures to gain visibility. The Celebrity Edition further strengthened this vision by bringing an accomplished entrepreneur and creator closer to the student community. The interaction with Sharan Hegde enabled students to look beyond conventional entrepreneurial pathways and understand how creativity, technology, community and business acumen can converge to create scalable ventures.
Through the Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, JIS continues to provide young innovators with the ecosystem and guidance required to take their ideas from the drawing board to viable business propositions, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Jaspreet Kaur, Director, Corporate Relations, JIS, Group said, “Made in JIS reflects our commitment to creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem where ideas are encouraged, ambition is nurtured and young innovators are given the opportunity to learn directly from those who have built meaningful ventures. The Celebrity Edition brought this vision to life by giving our students the opportunity to engage with an entrepreneurial journey that is both inspiring and instructive. Sharan Hegde’s story demonstrates how ideas, communities and innovation can come together to create meaningful enterprises, and we hope such interactions encourage our students to think boldly, embrace innovation and build ventures that create lasting value.”
Photo Caption (L-R): Ms. Jaspreet Kaur, Director, Corporate Relations, JIS; Mr. Sharan Hegde, Founder & CEO of The 1% Club, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honouree; Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director, JIS Group.
