Kolkata : Young innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs got an opportunity to explore the changing landscape of entrepreneurship, financial education and the creator economy as ‘Made in JIS – Celebrity Edition 2026’ was held at the JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, Austin Tower, New Town, Kolkata.
The event featured Sharan Hegde, Founder and CEO of The 1% Club, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honouree and a prominent personal finance content creator. Hegde, who has built a community of more than seven million followers across digital platforms, shared insights from his journey of turning a digital community into a financial edtech enterprise.
The programme also brought together industry representatives including Amitabh Ray, former Vice President, Ericsson; Ankit Agarwal, Director, GTPL KCBPL and Founder, Blob; Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director, JIS Group; and Jaspreet Kaur, Director – Corporate Relations, JIS. They interacted with students on leadership, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
During his special session, Hegde spoke about his transition from building an online community to establishing a venture-backed business. The discussion covered creator-led entrepreneurship, financial education, personal branding, community building and ways of converting digital influence into a sustainable and scalable venture.
The session also focused on India’s evolving creator economy and opportunities emerging at the intersection of content, technology and entrepreneurship. Hegde’s journey provided students with insights into how a digital community can develop into a business ecosystem backed by innovation, strategy and entrepreneurial discipline.
The 1% Club has also marked a milestone in India’s creator-led financial services space by securing SEBI registrations as a Registered Investment Adviser and Research Analyst.
An annual flagship initiative of the JIS Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, Made in JIS aims to promote entrepreneurship among students by connecting them with founders, industry leaders, investors and mentors.
The platform provides aspiring entrepreneurs with opportunities for incubation, mentorship, networking and exposure to the startup ecosystem. The Celebrity Edition seeks to bring established entrepreneurs and creators into direct interaction with students, allowing them to explore entrepreneurial pathways beyond conventional business models.
Through its Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre, JIS Group said it continues to support young innovators in developing early-stage ideas into viable business propositions.
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.”
She added that Hegde’s journey demonstrates how ideas, communities and innovation can come together to create enterprises and expressed hope that such interactions would encourage students to think boldly, embrace innovation and build ventures capable of creating lasting value.
