Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & Pitch Day

The School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, in collaboration with the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), organised an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & Pitch Day on 4th and 5th May 2026. The programme was conducted with the objective of providing students with meaningful practical exposure to entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, business model development, and pitch presentation. It was designed as a combination of interactive workshop sessions and final pitch evaluation, enabling students to move beyond classroom-based theoretical learning and engage with the practical dimensions of entrepreneurship.

The bootcamp was organised for students of 4 B. Com and MDC – Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. The sessions were facilitated by Dr. Saji Varghese, social entrepreneur and faculty member at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Central Campus. Drawing upon his rich experience in social innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative problem-solving, Dr. Varghese guided students on various aspects of entrepreneurial ideation, identification of social and economic problems, development of innovative solutions, preparation of business models, and effective presentation of ideas.

During the workshop sessions, students were encouraged to think critically about contemporary challenges and explore entrepreneurial solutions that are practical, sustainable, and socially relevant. The resource person emphasised the importance of creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, value creation, and responsible entrepreneurship. The sessions also helped students understand that entrepreneurship is not limited to starting a business, but also involves identifying gaps, addressing real-life problems, creating value for society, and developing solutions that are feasible and impactful.

A major focus of the bootcamp was on transforming ideas into structured entrepreneurial proposals. Students were guided on how to identify a problem, understand the needs of target users, assess the feasibility of the proposed solution, and present the business idea in a clear and convincing manner. The sessions also highlighted the relevance of communication skills, confidence, planning, market understanding, and implementation strategy in developing a successful entrepreneurial venture.

A significant component of the programme was the pitch preparation and evaluation process. Students worked individually or in groups on their ideas and presented them in a structured format before the evaluation panel. Their presentations included the problem identified, proposed solution, target audience, business model, expected impact, and implementation plan. The pitch evaluation provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of entrepreneurship and receive constructive feedback for further improvement. This process made the programme more participatory and outcome-oriented.

The programme proved to be an engaging and enriching learning experience for the participants. It helped students develop confidence, presentation skills, innovative thinking, teamwork, and a practical understanding of how entrepreneurial ideas can be shaped into meaningful ventures. It also promoted experiential learning by allowing students to apply classroom concepts to real-life situations.

Overall, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & Pitch Day successfully created a platform for students to explore entrepreneurship as a practical, creative, and socially meaningful process. The event encouraged responsible innovation, sustainable thinking, and entrepreneurial initiative among students, while motivating them to develop impactful solutions for contemporary social and economic challenges. It also strengthened the institution’s commitment to promoting innovation, experiential learning, and student-centred academic development.