Organized by:
DST–ITBI–GSSSTBIF, Mysuru in association with Entrepreneur Development Cell, GSSSIETW

Date & Time:
09th September 2025, 09:00 AM – 04:30 PM

Venue:
D Block, 4th Floor Seminar Hall, GSSSTBIF, Mysuru

Resource Person:
Dr. Hrishikesh A, CEO, DST–ITBI–GSSSTBIF, Mysuru

Objective of the Session:

• To guide student teams in refining their innovative ideas.
• To provide insights on preparing an effective pitch deck for Ideathon submission.
• To create awareness about Business Models, Financial Models, Go-to-Market Strategy, Customer Needs, and Target Customers.
• To motivate and prepare students for national-level participation.

Participation:

A total of 26 student teams actively participated in the session. The participants were from

• GSSSIETW, Mysuru
• GSSS Simha Subbamahalakshmi First Grade College, Mysuru

Session Highlights:

The session was structured into multiple focus areas covering:

A. Introduction to Ideathon:

•  Overview of event theme and objectives.
•  Guidelines on registration and submission process.

B. Business Models:•

• Understanding different types of business models.
• Aligning innovative ideas with viable business structures.

C. Customer Needs & Target Customers:

• Techniques to identify real customer problems.
• Mapping target customer segments and their expectations.
• Building value propositions that address unmet needs.

D. Go-to-Market Strategy:

• Key steps in validating ideas with early adopters.
• Market entry approaches and scaling strategies.
• Role of partnerships, branding, and digital marketing.

E. Financial Models:

• Basics of revenue streams, pricing models, and cost structure.
• Importance of financial feasibility and sustainability.
• Funding opportunities for early-stage ideas.

F. Pitch Deck Preparation:•

• Essential components of an impactful pitch deck.
• Tips to present problem, solution, and market clearly.
• Storytelling for engaging presentations.

G. Q&A and Mentorship Support:

•  Students interacted with the resource person to clarify doubts.
• The incubation centre assured continued support to selected teams.

Outcome:

• Enhanced understanding of entrepreneurship fundamentals among students.
• 26 teams gained clarity on business, financial, and market perspectives.
• Improved confidence in idea validation and pitch presentation.
• Teams understood the importance of aligning innovations with customer needs.
• Encouragement to think beyond academics and move towards startup creation.
• Mentorship link established between the incubation centre and student teams.

Key Takeaways for Students:

• Importance of customer-centric innovation.
• Role of business and financial models in shaping successful ventures.
• Necessity of go-to-market strategies for scaling innovations.
• Clarity on how to present ideas effectively to jury/investors.
• Exposure to entrepreneurial mindset and innovation ecosystem.

Conclusion:

The orientation and guidance session was highly successful in motivating students, enhancing their entrepreneurial knowledge, and equipping them with essential tools to refine their ideas. The program provided valuable insights and created a strong foundation for student participation in the upcoming Ideathon.

Dr. Hrishikesh .A

Dr. Sushma S J

Dr. S Padmashree