Prayaas Day 2025 ignites community impact with spotlight on budding entrepreneurs and changemakers
The first leg of the student-led social responsibility initiative was held on 2 February 2025
2 February, 2025, Bengaluru: The students of IIM Bangalore’s Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), supported by the Post Graduate Programme in Enterprise Management (PGPEM), successfully hosted Prayaas Day 2025, a landmark event that serves as a platform for event served as a platform for youth-driven innovation, sustainable business solutions, and community empowerment. The day-long event featured the grand finale of Youth Udyami, the unveiling of Atijeevan’s e-commerce platform, a thought-provoking panel discussion on innovation and social entrepreneurship, and a stand-up comedy act.
The event commenced with a lamp-lighting ceremony and opening address on the importance of empowering marginalized communities and nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among the youth, by Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean (Programmes), IIM Bangalore, and Mr. Rahul Rajan, Managing Director, Protostar, the event’s sponsor.
Empower Atijeevan: A step towards sustainable livelihoods
A defining moment of the day was the launch of the e-commerce platform by Atijeevan, a foundation that seeks to empower acid attack survivors through sourcing of financial support for victims’ life-affirming surgeries. Atijeevan presently faces the critical challenge of creating livelihood opportunities beyond donations that provide survivors with a sustainable road to relief. IIMB’s Prayaas team, along with dedicated volunteers, set out to bridge this gap. Over the past year, they worked closely with survivors to refine their handcrafted products, ensuring they met market expectations through rigorous surveys and feedback loops. The result led to a line of market-ready, high-quality artisanal goods, now complemented by personalized packaging and branding.
Each product carried a personal message—a ‘Thank You’ card, sharing the survivor’s story on one side and a heartfelt note on the other. The slogan "Scars are Beautiful" encapsulated a spirit of resilience, making every purchase a symbol of empowerment and dignity.
The launch of Atijeevan’s e-commerce platform marks a significant shift. With digital access, branding, and visibility, beneficiaries have now been enabled and are encouraged to create independent, sustainable livelihoods.
Aspiring entrepreneurs take center stage at Youth Udyami
A highlight of Prayaas Day was the entrepreneurship competition held for school students from grades 10 to 12, titled ‘Youth Udyami’. From 300 initial applications, a rigorous selection process whittled the field down to 47 teams in July, then 18 in November, before the top six finalists battled it out for the title.
Mentored by IIMB’s EPGP students, the young entrepreneurs showcased innovative and disruptive business ideas, proving that age is no barrier to ambition and ingenuity. The winning and runner-up teams were felicitated by IIMB Director Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, who commended the young achievers for their hard work and vision for a better future. The winning team was National Public School, Kengeri.
Additionally, the Prayaas team joined forces with the Start-up Cell, Karnataka, to provide students from government colleges and institutes under the K-Tech ecosystem an opportunity to attend the event. A total of 45 students, including innovators from the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Program, participated, laying the groundwork for future collaborations under Youth Udyami.
Panel discussion: The future of innovation and social entrepreneurship
The event featured a panel discussion with renowned leaders from the startup and social impact ecosystem:
- Smt. Archana C, K.A.S., General Manager of Startups, KITS, Govt. of Karnataka, shared insights on Karnataka’s startup ecosystem, the importance of funding, and the need to build an entrepreneurial mindset from school levels.
- Pragya Prasoon Singh, Founder, Atijeevan Foundation, spoke of the difficulties that acid attack survivors face in education and employment, with an emphasis on the importance of emotional and financial support."We started Atijeevan because of my personal experience. “Acid attack survivors face lifelong challenges—physical, emotional, and financial. Many struggle to continue education or find employment. This initiative will empower them to become financially independent," said Pragya Singh, a Nari Shakti Puraskar Awardee.
- Saif Shaikh, Co-founder, Thinkerbell Labs, shared his journey in developing a tech ecosystem to make Braille learning accessible to the visually impaired worldwide.
The discussion centred on scaling social enterprises, impact measurement, and funding for mission-driven startups.
Stand-Up, solidarity, and a story of strength
Stand-up comedian Harman Preet Singh opened the evening with his act, followed by Nishant Tanwar, who kept the audience entertained with his signature humor.
The event also featured Deepmala, an acid attack survivor from Atijeevan and an aspiring stand-up artist, who performed alongside Tanwar and Singh. After undergoing multiple surgeries to regain partial vision, she now works as a primary school teacher.
"While many office spaces continue to sideline acid attack survivors, today, Deepmala stood in the spotlight, owning the stage with her powerful voice and presence," said Pragya Singh.
Mentored by the professional comedians before her set, Deepmala delivered a performance that earned a standing ovation.
Next on Prayaas Day: Free prosthetic limb camp on 9 February
The next leg of Prayaas Day is set to take place on 9 February, 2025, with a free prosthetic limb donation camp organized in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (Jaipur Foot), from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the IIM Bangalore campus, Bannerghatta Road. The student-run effort, rooted in IIMB’s mission of building socially responsible leaders, seeks to support differently-abled individuals from BPL categories.