AR/VR Startup Developmente

Workshop on AR/VR Startup Development

Objective: MIIF and IIC along with Maharishi School of Engineering and Technology, in association with IQAC successfully organized workshop on AR/VR Startup Development on 9th to 13th February, 2026. The workshop aimed to equip the participants with both technical knowledge and entrepreneurial insight in the domain of immersive technologies. The workshop combined theoretical foundations, hands-on training, and startup-oriented guidance to provide a comprehensive learning experience.

Participating Students: 35 students of BCA, MCA, and B. Tech (CSE) from all semester.

Workshop Details: On Day 1, the participants were introduced to the fundamentals of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR). The session covered the evolution of immersive technologies, key differences between AR, VR, and MR, and their applications across sectors such as education, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and defence. The AR ecosystem, including hardware components and development platforms such as Unity, Unreal Engine, ARCore, ARKit, and Vuforia, was discussed in detail. The day also highlighted global market trends and startup opportunities in the AR/VR domain. Participants engaged in group discussions and ideation activities to identify real-world problem statements and propose innovative AR-based startup ideas.

On Day 2, the workshop focused on hands-on development using Unity. Participants learned how to set up AR projects using AR Foundation and configure mobile build settings. The concept of marker-less AR, including plane detection and surface tracking, was demonstrated. Students practiced placing and manipulating 3D objects in real-world environments. The session connected technical learning with practical business applications such as real estate visualization and AR-based product demonstrations. By the end of the day, participants successfully developed and tested a basic marker-less AR application.

On Day 3, the focus shifted to marker-based Augmented Reality (AR) and product prototyping, where participants learned about image tracking and the functioning of markers in AR applications. Through the integration of the Vuforia SDK with Unity, they created image targets and overlaid digital content such as 3D models and animations onto real-world surfaces, gaining practical exposure to marker-based AR development. Emphasis was placed on developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) aligned with a startup concept, and teams collaboratively designed prototype AR solutions incorporating branding and usability features. Additionally, Mr. Mahendra (Advisor, Incubation) conducted an engaging online session, motivating students with real-world insights and encouraging them to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship. He expressed strong support for startups and highlighted the vast scope of AR/VR technology across domains such as healthcare, education, architecture, real estate, and training, inspiring students to think beyond conventional applications and explore how immersive technologies can solve real-world problems and build impactful, successful startups.

On Day 4, the sessions emphasized interaction design and user experience in AR applications. Participants explored gesture controls, touch-based interaction, object manipulation, animation, and UI integration within AR environments. Principles of immersive user experience design were discussed to ensure usability and engagement. The entrepreneurial segment introduced revenue models, business model canvas preparation, pitch deck essentials, and incubation opportunities through MIIF and IIC. Teams refined their prototypes by integrating interactive elements and preparing structured startup presentations.

On Day 5, the workshop concluded with a comparative discussion on AR and VR technologies, their adoption trends, and future prospects. Basic application deployment and optimization processes were explained. The final session was dedicated to team presentations, where participants demonstrated their AR prototypes and presented startup pitches before mentors and faculty members. The workshop concluded with students’ feedback, discussion on career and incubation pathways in AR/VR, and certificate distribution.

The workshop was coordinated by: Mrs. Pooja Shukla, Assistant Professor, MSOET.

Students’ feedback: Students appreciated the balanced blend of theoretical concepts, hands-on training, and startup-oriented guidance provided during the workshop. They found the practical sessions on Unity and AR development particularly engaging and informative. Many participants expressed that the workshop enhanced their technical skills, broadened their understanding of AR/VR applications, and motivated them to explore innovation, entrepreneurship, and incubation opportunities in the field of immersive technologies.

Acknowledgements: Gratitude to Mr. Kartik Wadhwa (Unity Developer at Tekurious PVT Ltd, Ghaziabad) for sharing his expertise with our students. We also extend our gratitude to Hon’ble Vice Chancellor (Prof. Bhanu Pratap Singh), Registrar (Dr. Girish Chhimwal), Dean Academics (Dr. Neeraj Jain, MUIT, Lucknow Campus), Dean MSOET (Dr. Kalyan Acharjya) for his valuable guidance and constant encouragement. A heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Puneet Pandey (Manager, MIIF, Lucknow Campus)) for organizing the workshop smoothly and efficiently. Sincere thanks to Sr. AO (Dr. Rajesh Singh) for his active support and cooperation in making the visit a success.