"The difference between a dreamer and an entrepreneur is the courage to act when no one else will." ~ Daniel Harrington
Saksham, the Entrepreneurship Cell at IIM Udaipur, is at the heart of cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit within the student community. The club’s mission is simple: to inspire and empower students to transform their innovative ideas into real-world ventures. By offering resources, guidance, and mentorship, Saksham provides the tools needed to nurture creativity and build the confidence to take risks and succeed.
Saksham’s efforts go beyond the campus. It actively promotes entrepreneurship as a way of thinking for business, problem-solving, and innovation in everyday life. By fostering collaboration and encouraging diverse perspectives, the club ensures that students are equipped to turn their passion into action, impacting both the local community and broader society.
To further this vision, Saksham has built strong partnerships with organizations like TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and NEN (National Entrepreneurship Network). These collaborations open doors for students, connecting them with industry experts and providing a solid foundation to support their entrepreneurial journey.
Saksham works hand-in-hand with the IIMU Incubation Centre, which plays a central role in driving entrepreneurship at IIM Udaipur. Together, they help students on their entrepreneurial journey, providing a supportive ecosystem where innovative ideas can grow.
Saksham actively engages with start-ups, offering students real-world experience in tackling entrepreneurial challenges. By working directly on start-up-related issues, students get the opportunity to develop sustainable solutions to real problems. This hands-on approach equips students with the skills and insights needed to navigate the dynamic world of start-ups.
Saksham bridges the gap between start-ups and potential investors by connecting with venture capitalists and angel investors. The club has previously collaborated with prominent investor networks such as Mumbai Angels Network, HostelFund, Key Ventures, and SenseAI Ventures. This network of investors provides students and start-ups with opportunities to secure funding and mentorship, turning their ideas into viable businesses.
Prarambh, Saksham's flagship event, is a unique B-Plan competition that stands out by offering a two-month mentorship to selected participants. During this time, students receive guidance from industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs, helping them fine-tune their business pitches and become investor-ready. This mentorship program is a key highlight, offering invaluable support to participants on their entrepreneurial journey.
Saksham organizes a series of workshops designed to equip students with practical skills for starting up. Workshops like Usage and Attitude (U&A) Surveys, Design Thinking, and Prototype Development provide participants with a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial process. The U&A workshop focuses on conducting market surveys to assess the demand for a product or service, while the Design Thinking workshop teaches the importance of innovation in today’s world. The Prototyping workshop highlights the value of prototyping and guides participants on how to develop a tangible version of their ideas. These workshops ensure that students are well-prepared to bring their entrepreneurial visions to life.
Saudagar, IIM Udaipur’s annual business plan competition, helps students turn their ideas into actionable business plans. This year’s event took participants through an exciting journey with rounds like a Quiz, B-Plan submission, presentations, an Auction, and the Final Pitch. It gave students the chance to tackle real-world challenges, present their ideas to experienced judges, and get feedback that will help them take their entrepreneurial vision to the next level.
The contest challenges participants to think on their feet, adapting to different market conditions, cultures, and resource limitations to succeed in a dynamic, simulated business environment. Teams are randomly assigned locations and historical timelines with limited resources. They must navigate unique challenges, adapt to local conditions, and develop strategies to thrive, testing their ability to manage uncertainty and succeed in diverse markets.
BizViz is the annual case study competition organized by Saksham during Solaris, the Annual management fest of IIM Udaipur. BizViz provides an opportunity to become an entrepreneur and face all the challenges associated with it, for real! It lets students solve real-world problems by applying logic, business acumen, and gut feeling. The case for last year was provided by Ecozen, a leading sustainable tech start-up, with a vision to disrupt the way perishables are handled across the value chain, with clean and innovative technology. The student teams were evaluated by the experienced team of Ecozen.
Aim: The aim of this initiative is to give students a hands-on experience of entrepreneurship by having them start from scratch—planning everything from logistics and operations to making and selling food items on campus. It’s about learning the entire process of running a small business, right from the beginning.
Event: Saksham's new initiative allows its members to explore the real-world challenges of starting and managing a business. By selling food on campus, students gain practical insights into operations, marketing, finance, leadership, and problem-solving. It’s a chance to learn by doing, helping students develop the key skills needed to run a successful venture.
Aim: "Biz, Buzz & Chuckles" is all about bringing students together in a relaxed, informal setting to share and brainstorm innovative business ideas. It's a chance for students to collaborate, exchange fresh perspectives, and learn from one another in a fun, creative environment.
Event: The event features idea presentations, open discussions, and expert insights. Students get to pitch their ideas, engage in lively debates, and receive valuable feedback from industry experts, making it a great space for sparking creativity and exploring new business concepts.
One of the core objectives of Saksham is to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among the students and provide them with the right resources to support them in their ventures. In order to facilitate this, it is crucial for the student start-ups to emphasize on strong groundwork and focus on answering the following key questions:
Saksham invited eminent personalities from time to time for guest talks to campus. Rohit Jaiswal – Co-Founder, Bombay Shaving Company, Upasana Makati – Founder, White Print, Rishabh Verdia – TiE Udaipur, Gaurav Mantri - Founder, Cerebrata Cynapta, Mahavir Pratap Sarma - Global Board Member, TiE, Pranay Gupta - CIIE Member, Founder - 91springboard, are some who have graced us with their presence.
The best way to learn something is to get hands-on experience with it. With this objective in mind, Saksham organizes Balicha Haat, a place to showcase entrepreneurial skills.
BALICHA HAAT is a marketplace where students can sell, buy, earn and become the hottest entrepreneur on campus. Students can sell anything with their own resources and skill-set. (Food items, Art Craft, Merchandise, Gaming stall etc.)
Saksham, in association with the Incubation centre of IIM Udaipur, launched its podcast series. The podcast aims to spark and develop the entrepreneurial spirit in the young minds of undergraduate and postgraduate students. The podcast series revolves around the real-time stories of starting their entrepreneurial journey from the founder of companies like Bombay Shaving Company, Tempawala, Prodigy, etc.
E-Summit is all about giving students the chance to connect with successful entrepreneurs on a personal level and get inspired by their journeys. It’s designed to spark interest in entrepreneurship by showing students what’s possible through real-life stories of grit and success.
In 2024, Saksham hosted the second E-Summit at IIM Udaipur, where a lineup of accomplished entrepreneurs shared their personal stories, challenges, and triumphs. Their words left a lasting impression, motivating students to seriously consider entrepreneurship as a career path and inspiring them to chase their own dreams with confidence.
Prarambh, the flagship startup conclave organized by Saksham at IIM Udaipur, is designed to help budding entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable business models. Through expert mentorship, participants can develop their prototypes, conduct market testing, and pitch their plans to real investors. What began as a 32-hour startup challenge has now evolved into a six-week mentorship and pitching event, thanks to the overwhelming response it received.
This year, Prarambh saw over 150 startup ideas submitted by students and entrepreneurs from top universities, incubation centers, and colleges across India. From these, 12 of the most promising teams were shortlisted, with six teams opting for and benefiting from a four-week mentorship program to refine their ideas and prepare for their final pitch.
Rohit Jaiswal Co-founder PGP 2012-14
Akshay Jhinga Co-founder & CEO PGP 2011-13 (Pioneer batch)
Ritu Singh CEO at Elawoman PGP 2012-2014
Sandeep Rana, Co-Founder PGP 2012-14
Angad Singh Abrol Co-Founder & CEO PGP 2013-15 batch
Gaurav Agarwal Partner PGP 2017-19
Rutvi Solanki Co-Founder 2013-15 batch
Amit Hanspal & Hemant Chandak Co-Founder PGP 2015-17
Darpan Saxena Co-Founder PGP 2017-19
Amarpal Singh Founder 2013-15 batch
Stuti Agrawal PGP 2013-15
