The School of Comparative Indic Studies and Tribal Science in association with the Centre for Indigenous Science and Technology, KISS-DU Bhubaneswar, organized an insightful Boot Camp/Mentoring Session on “Lean Start-up & Minimum Viable Product (MVP)” under the Institution Innovation Council (IIC), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GoI) which aimed at empowering students with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. The session was led by Dr. Gajraj Singh Kushwaha from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology – Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI), a prominent figure in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Singh provided a comprehensive overview of the Lean Start-up methodology, emphasizing its importance for aspiring entrepreneurs. He highlighted how the Lean approach focuses on iterative development, rapid experimentation, and validated learning to ensure that new ventures build products that meet customer needs. Dr. Singh explained how entrepreneurs can test hypotheses and gather real-world data through experimentation. He emphasized the importance of pivoting based on evidence to ensure product-market fit. Dr. Singh explained how entrepreneurs can test hypotheses and gather real-world data through experimentation. He emphasized the importance of pivoting based on evidence to ensure product-market fit. The session covered the role of prototyping in the Lean Start-up model. Dr. Singh encouraged students to build simple, low-cost versions of their products to quickly test their ideas. He discussed how prototyping helps in saving time and resources by preventing unnecessary investments before confirming the product’s potential. Followed up, Dr. Singh shared key insights on essential business fundamentals, such as identifying a clear value proposition, understanding revenue models, and developing a sustainable business model. He guided students on how to build lean and efficient operations while keeping customer needs at the forefront.
By the end of the session, students gained a clear understanding of the start-up journey and the importance of creating a Minimum Viable Product to validate their business ideas before scaling. The mentoring provided practical insights into building successful start-ups using the Lean Start-up approach.
The boot camp was a great success, with active participation from 35 students. The session helped demystify the concepts of Lean Start-up and MVP, and students left with a solid foundation in customer development, validated learning, and business prototyping. The knowledge and skills acquired during the session will serve as valuable tools for the aspiring entrepreneurs of KISS-DU.
The event reflects the institution’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among its students, providing them with the tools to turn their ideas into viable businesses.
