AI startup JAN AI has partnered with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and other organisations to train women engineering students to use AI to solve real-world challenges in rural Karnataka.
The initiative called ‘She Innovates’ recently concluded its second six-day residential bootcamp, bringing together 55 women engineering students from seven districts across the state.
The programme was organised by JAN AI in partnership with the Visvesvaraya Research & Innovation Foundation (VRIF), VTU, UN Women, Wipro, the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and supported by TiE Bangalore and TiE Hubli.
Unlike conventional AI training programmes that begin with technology, She Innovates first exposed students to communities through village visits, empathy interviews and market research. Participants from Bengaluru, Belagavi, Chikkodi, Haveri, Vijayanagara, Mangaluru and Uttar Kannada worked to identify local problems before using generative AI, design thinking and rapid prototyping to develop startup-ready solutions.
According to JAN AI, the programme aims to encourage students to build AI applications that address grassroots challenges instead of focusing only on automation.
“Artificial intelligence is not about replacing human potential; it is about expanding it,” said Madan Padaki, Founder of JAN AI.
“At JAN AI, we believe the most impactful AI solutions don’t begin with technology; they begin with understanding the real challenges people face. When we empower young women to see problems in their communities as opportunities to innovate, AI becomes accessible, relevant and capable of creating lasting social and economic impact,” he added.
Students said the programme changed how they viewed entrepreneurship by teaching them to understand people’s needs before building technology.
“Coming into the bootcamp, I thought innovation was about building technology. I leave with the understanding that it begins with understanding people,” said participant Swati Patil.
During the six-day programme, participants conducted field visits, validated ideas with local communities and learnt to apply AI only after identifying genuine problems. The organisers said the initiative was designed to help students develop entrepreneurial thinking while using AI as a tool to create practical social and economic impact.
Speaking at the valedictory session, Prof Vidyashankar S, Chairman of VRIF and Vice-Chancellor of VTU, said programmes like She Innovates are important for developing innovators who can combine research, technology and entrepreneurship to solve societal challenges.
The company noted that the initiative is part of its broader vision of making AI more accessible and inclusive while encouraging young women to build AI solutions that are developed in India and designed to solve India’s real-world problems.
Your reaction
Discussion
What's your take on this story?
No comments yet — be the first to share your view.