Entrepreneurship Bootcamp - Edition IX

SRM DEI Entrepreneurial Bootcamp IX

A Journey from Ideas to Impact

Dates: 30 October – 2 November 2025

Organized by: Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (DEI), SRM Institute of Science and Technology

In collaboration with: The Founders Club, SRMIST Kattankulathur

Introduction

The SRM DEI Entrepreneurial Bootcamp IX was a four-day immersive experience designed to nurture young innovators and guide them through the complete journey of entrepreneurship — from idea generation to business execution.

Over 60 participants came together to learn, collaborate, and build real-world solutions under the guidance of industry experts, founders, and mentors. The program followed the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship and focused on combining creativity with discipline, innovation with structure, and passion with purpose.

Day 1: Igniting the Spark of Innovation

The opening day set the foundation for an exciting journey ahead. It focused on inspiring participants to think creatively, connect with one another, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

Key Highlights and Sessions:

• Networking Activity – Networking Bingo

A lively icebreaker that encouraged participants to meet new people, exchange ideas, and build early connections in a fun and engaging way.

• Session by Dr. Divya Rathod – Entrepreneurship Culture

Shared insights on building an inclusive and innovation-driven startup ecosystem. Emphasized how India’s entrepreneurial culture thrives on collaboration and creativity.

• Session by Dr. Sonali Gupta – Sparking Ideation

Guided participants through the process of discovering meaningful problems and generating impactful ideas using exercises like the Bug List and Means Report.

• Session by Ms. Priya Gopalan – The Power of Perseverance

Shared her personal journey of overcoming challenges as a woman entrepreneur and highlighted how resilience and empathy form the core of successful ventures.

• Session by Mr. Kushagra Pandya – The Startup Mindset

Explained how creativity must be paired with strategy to convert innovative ideas into scalable business solutions.

• Session by Mr. Chandrasekhar Kupperi – Building Sustainable Businesses

Focused on financial discipline, long-term planning, and strategic thinking to sustain innovation in dynamic markets.

• Team Activity – The Marshmallow Challenge

Teams worked together to build freestanding structures using spaghetti, string, and a marshmallow. The exercise reinforced teamwork, experimentation, and adaptability.

Takeaway:

Day 1 inspired participants to think big, connect deeply, and realize that entrepreneurship begins with curiosity and collaboration.

Day 2: Turning Ideas into Opportunities

The second day focused on the importance of teamwork, understanding value creation, and building customer-centered solutions. Participants explored how ideas evolve into opportunities through collaboration and purpose.

Key Highlights and Sessions:

• Session by Mr. Ajit Kher – Squad Building Essentials

Taught the importance of leadership, communication, and trust in forming high-performing teams. Encouraged participants to lead with empathy and purpose.

• Session by Mr. Senthil K Rajendran – Understanding Value Creation

Explained how successful ventures like OYO and Uber create and capture value. Emphasized the balance between innovation, impact, and sustainability.

• Session by Dr. Adith Chinnaswamy – Journey of Value Creation

Shared his entrepreneurial path in healthcare, inspiring students to turn problems into meaningful innovations.

• Value Building Game

Teams started with a simple plastic box and traded it for items of higher value within 75 minutes. The game tested negotiation, persuasion, and quick decision-making skills while teaching resilience in the face of rejection.

• Session by Ms. Vanitha Shankar – Customer-Centric Innovation

Introduced Design Thinking principles and the importance of empathy in product development. Helped participants understand how to design solutions that matter to real users.

• Mentor-Mentee Program

Participants pitched their startup ideas to experienced industry mentors. They received valuable feedback and personal guidance on improving their business models and presentations.

Takeaway:

Day 2 helped participants understand how teamwork, creativity, and empathy combine to turn a simple idea into a viable opportunity.

Day 3: Building the Business Model

Day 3 focused on the practical side of entrepreneurship — transforming ideas into structured business models and learning how to sustain and scale them. Participants engaged in strategy, storytelling, and financial learning.

Key Highlights and Sessions:

• Session by Mr. Siva Ramamoorthi – Getting to Market

Discussed effective go-to-market strategies and customer validation techniques. Highlighted the power of storytelling and creativity over big marketing budgets.

• Session by Mr. Senthil K Rajendran – Blueprint Your Business

Explained how strong business models form the backbone of success. Compared companies like Apple and Zerodha to show different approaches to scalability and innovation.

• The Business Model Game – Learning by Doing

Teams created real-world startup frameworks, balancing value propositions, costs, and revenue streams. The interactive format tested teamwork and adaptability in a simulated market environment.

• Session by Mr. Gopal Krishna Panda – Early Traction and Fundraising

Shared his personal entrepreneurial journey and the importance of consistency and credibility when attracting investors and building trust.

• Session by Dr. Shantanu Patil – The Art of Pitching Anything to Anybody

Taught participants how to pitch ideas with clarity and emotion using storytelling frameworks like NABC (Need, Approach, Benefit, Competition).

• Session by Dr. Ananth Kumar and Ms. Jamuna Rani – Frustration-Free Finance

Used an “ice cream cart” business example to explain essential financial concepts like cost structure, profit margins, and cash flow in a simple and engaging way.

• Elevator Pitch Challenge

A fast-paced, one-minute pitching exercise where participants learned to make quick, compelling introductions that capture attention instantly.

• Mentor-Mentee Expo

A lively interactive session where teams displayed their startup concepts while mentors walked around offering constructive feedback and real-time suggestions.

Takeaway:

By the end of Day 3, participants had learned how to turn their ideas into structured, financially viable, and pitch-ready ventures.

Day 4: The Grand Finale – From Vision to Venture

The final day brought all the learning and hard work together. It was a day of reflection, competition, and celebration as participants showcased their ventures before an expert panel.

Key Highlights and Sessions:

• Session by Dr. Hari Baabu – Funding Your Hustle

Explained the different stages of startup funding and how to attract investors through credibility, financial discipline, and strategic timing.

• Session by Mr. Hrishikesh Datar – Why Legal Needs to Be Your Best Friend

Highlighted the importance of legal literacy, intellectual property protection, and transparent agreements in building trustworthy startups.

• Venture Presentation Round 1

Teams pitched their startup ideas before industry experts. The top four teams — Isenseact, Nopaalhide, Sevithiran, and Vetri — advanced to the final round based on innovation and scalability.

• Reflection Session

Led by Dr. Shantanu Patil, participants shared their Bootcamp journey, expressing gratitude for the mentorship, collaboration, and learning they experienced.

• Final Round of Venture Presentations

The finalists presented their refined business models before the judges Dr. Ashish Patil, Dr. Vanitha Shankar, and Ms. Vaishali James. The judges evaluated their creativity, clarity, and impact.

• Closing Keynote by Dr. Ashish Patil – Founder of P-Flow

Shared his inspiring journey from identifying a problem in healthcare to pitching his innovation on Shark Tank India. His story encouraged participants to turn curiosity into creation and view failure as a stepping stone.

Awards and Closing Ceremony

• Bootcamp Winner: Team Vetri
• Most Innovative Idea Award: Team Nopaalhide

The event concluded with heartfelt closing remarks by Dr. Shantanu Patil and Dr. Ananth Kumar, followed by a group photo capturing the spirit of innovation and achievement.

Takeaway:

The final day celebrated creativity, courage, and collaboration. Participants walked away with a sense of accomplishment and a clear vision for their entrepreneurial journey.

Conclusion

The SRM DEI Entrepreneurial Bootcamp IX was not just an event but a transformative experience. Over four days, students discovered what it truly means to be an entrepreneur — to dream, design, and deliver ideas that make an impact.

They learned to think critically, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively. Every session, activity, and interaction added a layer of confidence and clarity to their vision.

The Bootcamp concluded not as an ending, but as a beginning — the start of many promising journeys that will continue to shape the world through innovation, determination, and purpose.