EPGP, supported by PGPEM, will host a year-long mentorship program for budding innovators from Classes 10 to 12

11 July, 2025, Bengaluru: Prayaas, the social responsibility initiative by the students of IIM Bangalore’s one-year, full-time MBA for experienced professionals, Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), and supported by the Post Graduate Programme in Enterprise Management (PGPEM), is organizing a year-long youth entrepreneurship program, ‘Youth Udyami’ at IIMB. The social-impact initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship among high school students from Classes 10 to 12, empowering them to become self-reliant catalysts for India's economic development.

To register now, please click HERE.

Selected candidates will benefit from mentorship provided by the IIM Bangalore (IIMB) community and experienced industry professionals. The mentorship will offer insights into industry best practices, enabling participants to apply these learnings both during the course of the project and in their future ventures.

The program will culminate on Prayaas Day, tentatively scheduled for February 2026, where final presentations will be evaluated by a panel comprising IIMB faculty and eminent industry leaders.

Theme for Youth Udyami 2026

Youth Udyami 2026 will engage students in a structured program involving business planning, hands-on activities, and market validation, where participants will conceptualize and develop a functional startup model over the coming months. With the theme ‘Passion to Profit’, participants are encouraged to explore what they truly enjoy and bring the idea to fruition through a scalable and sustainable business venture.

Students will identify areas they are genuinely passionate about, whether it is sports, travel, technology, arts, fashion, food, or any other interest, and think creatively about how that passion can be developed into a profitable business idea. The goal is to align personal interests with entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, and market viability.

For those who are passionate about social causes, the program also welcomes ideas in social entrepreneurship. Participants are encouraged to build models that not only address societal issues but also demonstrate self-sustainability and impact-driven profitability.

By turning passion into purpose and profit, students are expected to gain a deeper understanding of business fundamentals while staying true to what inspires them most. By turning passion into purpose and profit, students will gain a deeper understanding of business fundamentals while staying true to what inspires them most.

Participants are required to identify a problem that they have personally experienced or observed in Bangalore, or one that has been encountered by their friends or family members. Based on this real-world issue, participants must propose a practical solution and formulate a corresponding business idea. The business concept may be product-based or service-oriented, aimed at addressing the identified challenge effectively.

Participation Criteria

Youth Udyami is open to students currently enrolled in Classes 10, 11, and 12 across all academic streams, from private and Government schools, within and outside Bangalore. Students may form teams comprising up to three members.

A registration fee of ₹300 per team is applicable and must be paid at the time of registration. This fee covers participation in all phases of the program, access to mentorship, and certificates for all team members.

Each school may nominate up to a maximum of three teams. All teams will be evaluated independently based on the strength of their submissions and performance throughout the program.

Kindly note, snacks and refreshments will be provided to all participants during on-campus events. However, no travel reimbursements will be provided. Participants are expected to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, if required.

Overview and Timeline

• 20 July 2025: As part of the application process, participants must complete the registration and submit a one-pager outlining the identified problem and the proposed solution. Shortlisting will be carried out based on the clarity and relevance of the problem and the feasibility and impact of the proposed solution.
• 26 July 2025: Announcement of shortlisted teams (Top 50 teams tentatively).
• 3 August 2025: Phase I - On-Campus Idea Pitching by Shortlisted Participants

In the first phase of the Youth Udyami program, the shortlisted participants will be invited to the IIMB campus to present their business ideas before a panel. Each shortlisted team may consist of a maximum of three students and one accompanying guardian. The guardian may be either a teacher or a parent of one of the selected participants.

Participants will deliver a 3-minute elevator pitch, followed by a 2-minute Q&A session with the judging panel. Teams are encouraged to present their ideas in a clear, concise, and compelling manner, highlighting the problem, solution, and potential impact.

Results will be announced at the conclusion of the event. The top 20 teams (tentatively) will be selected for Phase II, and all participants will receive certificates of participation in recognition of their effort and contribution.

October 2025 (Tentative): Mid-Term Review - Mentorship and Course Correction

Before entering Phase II, a mid-term review will be conducted to offer continued mentorship and guidance to the selected teams. The check-in will ensure that students remain aligned with the core objectives of the program and refine their ideas based on feedback and evolving insights.

December 2025 (Tentative): Phase II - Business Model Development

The selected teams from Phase I will move forward to Phase II of the program. To participate in this phase, teams are required to complete the following pre-event submissions:

• At least five customer interviews related to their problem identification, aimed at validating the relevance and depth of the issue.
• A completed Lean Canvas, summarizing key elements of their business idea. (The Lean Canvas format will be provided by the organizing team.)

These submissions will form the foundation for further mentoring and final evaluation.

In Phase II, selected teams will have the opportunity to present their solution in greater depth. Each team will make a 7-minute detailed presentation, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session with the jury. Presentations should cover key aspects such as problem validation, customer insights, business model, scalability, and implementation roadmap.

Detailed timelines, formats, and submission guidelines will be shared with the selected teams in advance.

February 2026 (Tentative): Phase III - Grand Finale on Prayaas Day

The final round of the Youth Udyami program, Phase III, will take place on Prayaas Day. The top five teams from Phase II will present their polished and investor-ready business ideas to a distinguished panel comprising IIMB professors and industry leaders.

The grand finale will showcase the most promising ideas of the cohort. One team will be declared the winner, while the remaining finalists will be awarded consolation prizes.