‘Headstart’ Ignites the Entrepreneurial Spirit in BBA students

ATLAS SkillTech University recently hosted an exhilarating event called “Headstart,” aimed at fuelling the entrepreneurial drive among BBA students. This unique event was organised to give a warm welcome to the new batch of BBA students even before their classes officially began in the new academic year. It provided an excellent opportunity for students to engage with their peers and professors while delving into the world of entrepreneurship through a series of curated challenges.

Rainmaker Challenge

The first challenge, known as the Rainmaker Challenge, encouraged students to think creatively about making it rain in the class. With boundless enthusiasm, the students proposed various interesting solutions. Ultimately, they joined forces and created the sounds and music that mimic a rainstorm. As one group passed an action to the next, the entire class collaborated to generate a thunderous shower of rain, recreating the entire weather phenomenon using actions like rubbing hands, patting thighs, snapping fingers, clapping hands and stomping feet. This exercise not only served as a great warm-up but also fostered a sense of unity and camaraderie among the students and faculty members who enthusiastically participated.

Marshmallow Challenge

Next up was the Marshmallow Challenge, which divided the students into 16 groups named after vibrant colors like pink, green, gold and blue. The objective was to construct the tallest tower possible using only 20 pieces of spaghetti, 1 meter of tape, 1 meter of string and a packet of marshmallows. The teams unleashed their creativity, brainstorming ideas and implementing innovative solutions. Team Lime emerged victorious, building an impressive 27-inch tower, closely followed by Team Pink with a 26-inch tower.

Skills imparted

Participating in the Marshmallow Challenge imparted valuable skills to the students. Collaboration took center stage as team members learned to work together, share ideas, and coordinate their efforts to construct a successful structure. Effective communication and cooperation became the keys to achieving a common goal. The challenge also nurtured creativity and innovation by pushing teams to think outside the box, explore unconventional approaches, and adapt their strategies as they progressed. It honed their problem-solving abilities, as participants analysed tasks, broke them down into smaller components, and devised practical solutions within the given constraints. Furthermore, the challenge emphasised the importance of iterative learning, encouraging participants to experiment, learn from initial attempts, and refine their approaches accordingly. Time management skills were also put to the test, with teams needing to prioritise, plan, and allocate resources efficiently within the given timeframe.

Start-up Quiz

The excitement continued with the Start-up Quiz, where teams had to answer intriguing questions related to various start-up themes, such as the history of startups, common terminology, startup founders, and startup funding. The atmosphere was electrifying as teams enthusiastically tackled questions like identifying successful startups founded in college dorm rooms and discussing the roles of entrepreneurs like Elon Musk. Team Gold emerged victorious in this round, showcasing their exceptional knowledge, followed closely by Team Brown and Team Lime, who secured second and third positions respectively.

Entrepreneurship Challenge

The Entrepreneurship Challenge took center stage, providing students with a broad theme – ‘Future of Food’ – and six challenges related to the food sector. The teams were tasked with developing solutions that addressed these challenges while simultaneously building a business around their ideas. Each group had to select the most feasible business concept and present it in an elevator pitch. The faculty mentors provided invaluable guidance throughout the entire process.

Elevator Pitch

Based on their performance in the Marshmallow Challenge, Start-up Quiz, and Entrepreneurship Challenge, the teams were awarded ALAS Currency, which they could use to buy additional time for the elevator pitch round.

The elevator pitch required students to present their business idea to the judge within a time limit. The ideas presented were evaluated based on scalability, clarity on the initial customer segment, the strength of evidence of the problem and market opportunity and more. Team Black, Team Pink, and Team Teal emerged as the winners in this round, captivating the judge with their compelling elevator pitches.

As a judge, Fabbox’s marketing professional, entrepreneur and core team member Prof. Ameya Ambulkar assessed student performances in this round.

Skills imparted

Recognise business opportunities

The Entrepreneurship Challenge and Elevator Pitch equipped students with a range of valuable skills. They learned to recognise business opportunities by analysing market trends and identifying customer needs and gaps in the market.

Innovation and creativity

The challenge fostered innovation and creativity by encouraging participants to generate unique ideas and differentiate their offerings from competitors.

Business planning

Students developed business planning skills, including defining target markets, conducting market research, creating financial projections, and outlining strategies for marketing, operations, and growth.

Resource Management

Resource management was a critical aspect of the challenge, as students learned how to allocate resources effectively and make strategic decisions to optimise their chances of success.

Networking opportunities

Furthermore, the challenge provided ample networking opportunities, allowing participants to connect with mentors, hone their networking skills and establish valuable relationships.

Resilience and adaptability

Resilience and adaptability were also nurtured, as students persevered in the face of adversity, adapted strategies based on feedback and changing market conditions, and developed effective problem-solving skills.

Communication abilities

The challenge helped refine students’ pitching and communication abilities, ensuring they could articulate their ideas persuasively and convey their business vision effectively.

Leadership & teamwork

Lastly, the challenge emphasised leadership and teamwork, allowing students to collaborate, delegate tasks and lead diverse groups toward a common goal.