Sambalpur, Nov. 8: National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) chairman C.P. Gurnani today said start-ups were the perfect way for youngsters to turn innovative ideas into successful ventures.

Speaking at the 8th convocation of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla today, Gurani, the managing director and CEO or Tech Mahindra, said: "Seventy-two per cent entrepreneurs in India are young founders under the age of 36 years and 52 per cent founders come with a post-graduate degree."

Our country is the youngest nation of start-ups in the world. A huge number of people are leaving their high-paying jobs to follow their passion and turn their dreams into reality, he said.

Gurnani urged the students to engage themselves in all their passions. He said: "Learn to stretch yourself to the limit and beyond, to achieve your goals."

He advised the students to be accountable for their career and to create their own paths.

Odisha governor and the chancellor of the university S.C. Jamir stressed the importance of quality teachers and said: "Teachers tremendously influence and transform the lives of students by their character, conduct, attitude, knowledge and skills."

"Teachers shoulder the most important responsibility in the growth as well as the development of individual society and nation, " Jamir said.

Emphasising the need for quality teaching and research for making a vibrant India, Jamir said: "Research keeps teachers intellectually trim. A researcher-teacher can bring freshness and vitality in the knowledge he is expected to communicate to his students by connecting research to teaching."

VSSUT vice-chancellor and professor E. Saibaba Reddy delivered the welcome address and conferred the honorary doctor of science degree on chief guest Gurnani.

A total of 792 students were awarded BTech, MTech, MSc, MPhil, MCA and PhD degrees. Twenty-three meritorious students were awarded gold medals.