A four-day journey turning ideas into impactful, pitch-ready ventures.

Organized by: Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (DEI), SRM Institute of Science and Technology
In collaboration with: The Founders Club, SRMIST Kattankulathur
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.
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.
A lively icebreaker that encouraged participants to meet new people, exchange ideas, and build early connections in a fun and engaging way.
Shared insights on building an inclusive and innovation-driven startup ecosystem. Emphasized how India’s entrepreneurial culture thrives on collaboration and creativity.
Guided participants through the process of discovering meaningful problems and generating impactful ideas using exercises like the Bug List and Means Report.
Shared her personal journey of overcoming challenges as a woman entrepreneur and highlighted how resilience and empathy form the core of successful ventures.
Explained how creativity must be paired with strategy to convert innovative ideas into scalable business solutions.
Focused on financial discipline, long-term planning, and strategic thinking to sustain innovation in dynamic markets.
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.
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.
Taught the importance of leadership, communication, and trust in forming high-performing teams. Encouraged participants to lead with empathy and purpose.
Explained how successful ventures like OYO and Uber create and capture value. Emphasized the balance between innovation, impact, and sustainability.
Shared his entrepreneurial path in healthcare, inspiring students to turn problems into meaningful innovations.
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.
Introduced Design Thinking principles and the importance of empathy in product development. Helped participants understand how to design solutions that matter to real users.
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 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.
Discussed effective go-to-market strategies and customer validation techniques. Highlighted the power of storytelling and creativity over big marketing budgets.
Explained how strong business models form the backbone of success. Compared companies like Apple and Zerodha to show different approaches to scalability and innovation.
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.
Shared his personal entrepreneurial journey and the importance of consistency and credibility when attracting investors and building trust.
Taught participants how to pitch ideas with clarity and emotion using storytelling frameworks like NABC (Need, Approach, Benefit, Competition).
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.
A fast-paced, one-minute pitching exercise where participants learned to make quick, compelling introductions that capture attention instantly.
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.
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.
Explained the different stages of startup funding and how to attract investors through credibility, financial discipline, and strategic timing.
Highlighted the importance of legal literacy, intellectual property protection, and transparent agreements in building trustworthy startups.
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.
Led by Dr. Shantanu Patil, participants shared their Bootcamp journey, expressing gratitude for the mentorship, collaboration, and learning they experienced.
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.
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.
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.
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.