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Updated: Sep 26, 2022 10:59 am IS
New Delhi [India], Sept. 26 (ANI/Mediawire): Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, has created an excellent opportunity for its MBA (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) students to pitch their startups to potential investors for funding at The Grand Pitch 2022. The event was planned and held by the Innovation Council, a student council at the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Pune (SIBM Pune), on September 20, 2022.
About this event said Dr. R. Raman, Director of SIBM Pune: “SIBM Pune’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MBA) program is constantly full of ideas for entrepreneurial intentions and the students of this program are offered many opportunities to make their ventures successful. Grand Pitch is one of them that offers a funding opportunity for SIBM Pune startups.
The 2022 Grand Pitch hosted a significant group of investors including Arnab Ray, Chief Executive Officer, Array Innovative and Consultancy Services; Niraj Lunawat, Founder and CEO, Ai India Innovation Center; Ashish Banka, Co-Founder, Angel Investor, Eggfirst Advertising and Design; Nishant Oberoi, Founder, Angel Investor, GoPllay; Poojit Jain, Angel Investor, Co-Founder, Eaglewings Ventures; Rajeev Manjrekar, Chief Advisor, Datakatalyst Ventures LLP and Distinguished Alumni of the 1997 Group of SIBM Pune, Vaibhav Goyal, Mentor and Investor, India Accelerator, and Varun Sharma, Co-Founder, Cloudegic Inc.
The event began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The event was also hosted by Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International (Prestigious University) and Dr. Rajini Gupte, Vice-Chancellor, Symbiosis International (Prestigious University), who welcomed investors ahead of the main event.
The investors were advised by Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman, Director, SIBM Pune, Dean, Faculty of Management, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, and Director, Strategy and Development, SIU. This was followed by the speech by Dr. Raman, in which he referred to the MBA (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) program as the intellectual product of Prof. Dr. SB Mujumdar, Founder and President of Symbiosis and Chancellor of the SIU, pointed out. Then came the preparations for the series of pitch meetings and interaction between entrepreneurs and tycoons.
MBA (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) students and graduates as well as SCEI start-ups were granted the platform to receive funding in exchange for a stake in their emerging companies. The presentations to the investors focused on problems and innovative solutions that explained feasibility and potential. This event was consistent and similar to the well-known show “Shark Tank India”.
Among the plethora of startups given the chance opportunity to pitch themselves to interested investors were HabitUp, Chop n’ Chill, Air Guruji, Wevive India, Supolabs, Cannabie, Oitary, Ecoco Straws, S-Neel Enterprises Private Limited, Des Rangeela, Corporates and 1 Million Women Leaders Circle. From more than 50 startups that applied, the ones mentioned above made it onto the shortlist. From menstrual health to AIML in schools, the enthusiastic visionaries presented different problems and perspectives. As attendees explored trends ranging from healthy foods to textiles and home décor by Indian artists, anticipation for each presentation grew throughout the day.
Synonymous with SharkTank India, the presentations were discussed extensively and the panelists gave immense support to the ideas and efforts. The discussions on marketing strategies, opportunities, distribution channels, positioning, scalability and the impact created by the innovations, coupled with the invaluable guidance from investors and the connections made, would remain an asset for the entrepreneurial journeys to come. The participants had also set up their stands to showcase their ventures, which were open to all to visit and also shop. The day of tensions, debates, offers and counter-offers ended in success and a brighter path for the budding entrepreneurs who proved themselves and their vision to the prestigious jury.
AIR Guruji, which brought AIML, robotics and IoT to schools, and Oitary, a revolutionary FemTech, caught the interest of investors and secured 9 lakhs and 7.5 lakhs of funding respectively. The efforts of the Innovation Council and volunteers, the serious work of the innovators, and the wise words of illustrious investors all helped make The Grand Pitch 2022 a roaring success.
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