Parul University students experienced India’s Silicon Valley — Bangalore — through an immersive AI and technology trip. From Amazon Pay to Google and startups, they explored innovation, leadership, and the human side of technology.
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As soon as the Parul University student group arrived in Bangalore, famously known as India’s Silicon Valley, they immediately felt the city’s vibrant startup energy. From the moment they stepped off the bus, it seemed as if ideas were bouncing everywhere — in conversations, coworking spaces, and even on screens around the city. The message was clear: “The future is being built here.”
This was not a conventional technical tour. It was a fully immersive experience that showcased how curiosity, courage, and creativity drive innovation and shape the world of AI.
Exploring the Journey of AI
The excitement began with Leslie D’Monte, Executive Editor of Mint, who took students on a journey from the era of typewriters to today’s algorithm-driven world.
His stories went beyond technology — they were about transformation.
“Ask the right questions and welcome change,” he advised, setting the tone for the days ahead.
Students realized that AI is not just about coding or computation. It’s about thinking differently, asking “why not?” instead of “what if?”.
From Curiosity to Purpose at Amazon Pay
Balaji Mani illustrated how curiosity can transform into purpose. Sharing his winding career journey in innovation, he emphasized the importance of taking risks, being patient, and finding meaning in your work.
For the students, it was an awakening: success doesn’t come from playing it safe. It comes from believing deeply in your vision and pursuing it relentlessly.
The sessions were filled with laughter, questions, and inspiration — the kind of energy that motivates action the moment you step outside.
Creativity Driving Leadership at Google
A visit to Google highlighted how creativity fuels leadership. In a memorable workshop, Anand Rangarajan interwove technology, ethics, and empathy, delivering a simple but powerful message:
“Technology is powerful, but it’s only as good as the people behind it.”
Students saw firsthand that AI doesn’t replace humans; it encourages us to be more thoughtful, ethical, and imaginative.
Technology Meets Governance
The journey then took a fascinating turn into politics, visiting the Karnataka MP office. Aravind Suchindran compared elections to exams — demanding strategy, preparation, and resilience.
His message resonated: success, whether in government or business, requires vision, planning, and patience. Technology, after all, is more than products — it’s about people, systems, and how ideas manifest in the world.
Taking Risks & Building Resilience
Startup sessions with Ashish Dahiya and Hariharan Thirugnanam from Instabase India brought students face-to-face with the raw realities of entrepreneurship.
Their stories emphasized that failure is part of the journey, not the end of it. Students absorbed lessons about grit, small wins, and learning through trial and error — redefining what it means to build something from scratch.
Seeing AI’s Broader Horizon
Next, Mohammed Anzy from Guidewire India and Jayanth Kollaa from Convergence Catalyst pushed students to rethink AI’s possibilities.
AI, they explained, is evolving, learning, and adapting, but it still requires human guidance. By connecting curiosity, leadership, and resilience, students developed a broader, responsible vision for shaping the tech world.
Innovation in Action
The final stop brought students face-to-face with Himanshu Upreti and Amritendu Mukherjee, innovators from AI Palette and NeuroPixel.AI.
They shared their journeys of long nights, tough decisions, and moments of doubt that eventually led to breakthroughs. Students learned that true innovation demands passion, persistence, and resilience.
Returning with Perspective
The Parul University students left Bangalore not just with notes and pictures, but with a fresh perspective on innovation and leadership.
They witnessed how ideas are created, nurtured, and realized across offices, startups, and government spaces. Every interaction added a layer to their understanding, leading to a profound realization:
“The future isn’t something that happens to us — it’s something we create.”
With curiosity as their compass, courage as their engine, and knowledge as their toolbox, the students returned poised to shape the next chapter of AI and technology.
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