Why choose this course?

Unlock your entrepreneurial potential with XLRI’s expert faculty

Learn from XLRI’s Leadership in Entrepreneurship

Learn directly from XLRI’s distinguished faculty and seasoned industry experts.

Interactive Learning Experience

Engage in live interactive sessions, personalized mentorship, and collaborative peer learning.

Hands-On Skill Development

Gain practical skills using AI and advanced tools to build innovative startups.

Pitch, Present & Shine

Master pitching techniques and get the opportunity to be a part of a 2-day in-person pitch challenge at the XLRI campus.

Entrepreneurial Mindset Building

Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset to identify real challenges and create impactful solutions.

Earn a Prestigious Certification

Receive a prestigious XLRI certification of completion that enhances your credibility and career prospects.

Learn from XLRI’s Leadership in Entrepreneurship

Learn directly from XLRI’s distinguished faculty and seasoned industry experts.

Interactive Learning Experience

Engage in live interactive sessions, personalized mentorship, and collaborative peer learning.

Hands-On Skill Development

Gain practical skills using AI and advanced tools to build innovative startups.

Pitch, Present & Shine

Master pitching techniques and get the opportunity to be a part of a 2-day in-person pitch challenge at the XLRI campus.

Entrepreneurial Mindset Building

Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset to identify real challenges and create impactful solutions.

Earn a Prestigious Certification

Receive a prestigious XLRI certification of completion that enhances your credibility and career prospects.

*Certificate Eligibility: Minimum 70% overall attendance and 30% marks in cumulative evaluations score

The XLRI Jamshedpur effect

Meet 32 Indian startups born out of XLRI Jamshedpur

What will you learn?

This 6-month program covers everything from developing a founder’s mindset and discovering real-world problems to building prototypes and mastering fundraising. Learn to leverage AI, craft marketing strategies, and pitch confidently to investors. Hands-on mentorship and live sessions ensure practical, industry-relevant skills.

Toolkit

Course Details

Duration

6 Months

Course Mode

Online

Certification

From XLRI Leadership Education and Development

Module 01: Getting into the Founder’s Mindset

• Exploring the entrepreneurial path: transforming ideas into meaningful impact
• Navigating uncertainty with resilience and strategic risk-taking
• Strengthening emotional intelligence and inner tenacity
• Adopting a growth mindset and turning setbacks into learning opportunities
• Leadership styles for founders: leading with vision and agility

Module 02: Problem-Solving & Idea Discovery

• Identifying real-world problems worth solving
• Exploring creative ideation methods like design thinking, SCAMPER, blue ocean strategy etc.
• Engaging in customer discovery to validate market demand
• Charting customer pain points, building personas, and mapping user journeys
• Assessing the viability, growth potential, and appeal of your idea
• Applying lean startup tactics for fast, feedback-driven iterations

Module 03: Leveraging AI for Smarter Startups

• Understand the strategic value of AI in the startup ecosystem
• Explore no-code/low-code AI platforms for rapid prototyping and implementation
• Learn to automate key business functions to improve efficiency and reduce costs
• Use AI tools for market research, forecasting, and competitive intelligence
• Build data-driven, personalized products that enhance customer engagement

Module 04: Prototyping, Building & Product-Market Fit

• Minimum Viable Product: what, why, and how
• Wireframing, prototyping tools, and rapid development
• Running usability tests and gathering early feedback
• Pivoting or persevering: learning from product iterations

Module 05: Marketing, Traction & Brand Building

• Defining target audiences and channels for outreach
• Building a go-to-market strategy (GTM)
• Leveraging content, social media, and influencer marketing
• Growth hacking techniques for traction
• Tracking key performance indicators

Module 06: Business Models, Money & FundRaising

• Choosing the right business model (freemium, SaaS, marketplace, etc.) and business model innovation techniques
• Understand unit economics, pricing, and financial viability
• Build robust financial projections and manage runway effectively
• Explore the pros and cons of bootstrapping versus external funding
• Gain insight into the fundraising lifecycle and investor expectations
• Create compelling pitch decks and master the art of investor communication

Module 07: Scaling, Teams & Demo Day

• Building high-performance startup teams and culture
• Hiring for attitude and upskilling for performance
• Creating scalable systems and processes
• Managing growth, delegation, and operational complexity
• Legal essentials: IP, compliance, contracts, and governance
• Preparing for Demo Day: pitching with clarity and confidence

Instructors

Dr Arindam Mondal

Associate Professor, XLRI (Xavier School of Management)

Dr. Arindam Mondal is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Strategic Management Area at XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur (XLRI). He has a PhD in Strategic Management from the...

Dr Sanjeev Govil

Startup Mentor | Strategic Leader | Professor of Practice – Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Govil is a former CEO of Vodafone Idea Ltd. and COO of Idea Cellular with 38+ years of leadership experience in scaling businesses and driving market disruption. Now an Advisor at In...

Manoj Kambadur

Entrepreneur and Educator

Manoj Kambadur is an entrepreneur and educator with a strong interest in the intersection of business, technology, and learning. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor's...

Rajan Verma

Founder | Technology Consultant and Data Systems Architect

Rajan Verma is a technology consultant with over a decade of experience in building full-stack products, managing engineering teams, and designing scalable infrastructure for fast-paced startups. He ...

Vignesh Raja

Mentor to Founders | Strategy Consultant | Business Intelligence Specialist

Vignesh Raja is a seasoned strategy consultant with over 19 years of experience in business research, analytics, and strategic advisory across diverse sectors including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, con...

Sudhakar Suga

CEO | Technology Strategist | Startup Mentor

Sudhakar Suga is a seasoned technology leader with over 26 years of experience spanning software engineering, product development, and enterprise-scale systems across industries. As the CEO of Starlly...