According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report, skills such as Analytical thinking, resilience and flexibility are among the top competencies required in the workplace. Individuals need to be equipped with skills like these to address 21st century career challenges and also to drive innovation across industries. CHIREC believes that by providing various platforms, these competencies can be nurtured within students.
At CHIREC entrepreneurship education is one such platform. The Student Entrepreneurship Program at CHIREC is an outcome of this vision. It is a joint initiative between CHIREC and Indian School of Business (ISB). This 6-week program was designed to equip students with the entrepreneurial mindset and skills necessary to solve real-world problems.
This initiative goes beyond the classroom to teach students how to turn ideas into reality, fostering an environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving. It exposed students to not only theoretical business knowledge but its practical application as well. Through this initiative we are not just preparing students for existing jobs; we are empowering them to create new opportunities and redefine the work landscape as well.
The program also seeks to communicate that Entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for community and societal improvement. When students learn to build businesses, they also learn to create solutions for their communities. This instills a sense of responsibility and a drive to contribute positively to society. Another key aim of the program was to create socially conscious young business leaders, ready to tackle global challenges.
“Over the past 6 weeks, our students have engaged in weekly sessions with ISB faculty, worked closely with seasoned mentors who provided one on one guidance and put in countless hours to build 26 extraordinary businesses. And not just any business – they built businesses with purpose and profit, designed to create a better world. This is something we should be extremely proud of.” says Aneesha Reddy, Head of Strategic Initiatives at CHIREC International School.
The program covered entrepreneurial topics such as: Idea Generation and Validation, Design Thinking, Product-Market Fit, Business Canvas Model, Finance, Pitch Deck Creation and more. Led by industry experts and supported by one-on-one mentorship, the students worked through each stage of developing their start-up ideas. They not only enhanced their business acumen but also enabled them to adapt in a rapidly changing world. “Watching these students evolve and gain confidence in their ideas has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this program,” shares Mr Saumya, Director at I-Venture @ ISB.
The program concluded on Demo Day where 26 student teams presented their innovative ideas to a panel of esteemed investors in a Shark Tank Style Pitching Event. Representatives from top investment firms as well as angel investors, participated in evaluating the pitches. “It was heartening to see children at 16 years, come up with a scalable idea and present it with a complete business plan. The plan also highlighted specific steps as to how they will achieve market growth in the future.” Each student team received valuable feedback, paving the way for them to further refine and develop their ventures. Currently some of the business start-up ideas proposed by CHIREC students are being mentored by angel investors.
Also read: School of Eminence: Chirec International School, Hyderabad
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