Sharan Hegde Shares Entrepreneurial Insights at ‘Made in JIS – Celebrity Edition 2026’

The event Made in JIS – Celebrity Edition 2026 gathered young innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and industry experts at the JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, Austin Tower, New Town, Kolkata. The dialogue focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the expanding creator economy.

Sharan Hegde, Founder and CEO of The 1% Club, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, and a leading personal finance content creator in India, was the event’s highlight. With a follower base of over seven million, Hegde has significantly enhanced financial literacy among India’s youth. His venture, The 1% Club, is notable as the first finfluencer-led company in India to obtain SEBI licenses as a Registered Investment Advisor and Research Analyst.

Insights from Industry Leaders

Other distinguished participants included:

  • Amitabh Ray, Former Vice President at Ericsson
  • Ankit Agarwal, Director at GTPL KCBPL and founder of Blob
  • Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director of JIS Group
  • Jaspreet Kaur, Director of Corporate Relations at JIS

They shared expertise on leadership, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship with students.

Sharan Hegde’s Presentation Highlights

Hegde discussed his journey from building a digital community to launching a venture-backed financial edtech company. He provided valuable perspectives on:

  • Creator-led businesses
  • Financial education
  • Personal branding
  • Community building
  • Scaling digital influence into sustainable enterprises

The conversation also explored the dynamic creator economy and opportunities at the intersection of content creation, entrepreneurship, and technology. Hegde demonstrated how a strong digital community can evolve into a credible business network through vision, innovation, and discipline.

About ‘Made in JIS’ Program

Made in JIS is an annual flagship initiative by the JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre. It aims to foster an entrepreneurial culture by connecting students with founders, industry veterans, investors, and mentors. The program offers aspiring entrepreneurs:

  • Access to incubation and mentorship
  • Networking opportunities
  • Exposure to the startup ecosystem
  • Visibility for student-led ideas and ventures

The Celebrity Edition enhanced the program’s mission by facilitating direct engagement between students and a successful entrepreneur and content creator.

Impact on Students and Future Entrepreneurs

Interaction with Sharan Hegde encouraged students to explore innovative entrepreneurial paths beyond traditional methods. The event emphasized the convergence of creativity, technology, community, and business skills in building scalable enterprises.

The JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre remains committed to supporting young innovators by providing resources and mentorship to develop their ideas into sustainable businesses. This reflects its dedication to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Leadership Perspective

Jaspreet Kaur, Director of Corporate Relations at JIS Group, stated:

“Made in JIS demonstrates our dedication to building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures ideas, ambition, and opportunities for young innovators to learn from experienced venture builders. The Celebrity Edition realized this commitment by allowing our students to engage with an entrepreneurial journey that offers inspiration and practical lessons. Sharan Hegde’s story epitomizes how ideas, communities, and innovation can collectively forge significant enterprises. We anticipate such interactions will motivate our students to think creatively, embrace innovation, and develop ventures with lasting impact.”

Key Takeaways

  • Sharan Hegde’s experience highlights the power of digital communities in entrepreneurship.
  • The creator economy offers innovative pathways for business growth.
  • Made in JIS fosters student connections with industry leaders and mentors.
  • The JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre provides critical support for startup development.
  • Collaboration between creativity, technology, and business is key to scalable ventures.