India boasts the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, supported by a robust network of over 5,000 angel investors, 1,400 venture capital (VC) firms, and 1,100 private equity (PE) firms. This vibrant ecosystem is home to over 1,14,000 start-ups, including over 110 unicorns.
Despite this growth, many founders encounter fundamental challenges. Common issues include a lack of market understanding, product development pitfalls, co-founder conflicts, problem validation difficulties, and deficiencies in storytelling and vision articulation. There is a clear need for a comprehensive approach that emphasises first principles and core fundamentals of building a successful start-up. Developing an innovative idea, coupled with focused execution and strategic vision, remains a significant challenge for many entrepreneurs.
At SPJIMR, driven by our mission to advance wise innovation, we are committed to offering comprehensive support to entrepreneurs and making a lasting impact on the start-up ecosystem. Through the Sunil Bhatia Start-up Resource Hub (SBSRH), established through the generous endowment of our alumnus Sunil Bhatia (PGDM 1989), we nurture grassroots entrepreneurship, empowering passionate founders and guiding start-ups through the complexities of building scalable and sustainable ventures.
By offering deep insights into the fundamentals of building successful start-ups and providing essential support infrastructure, we aim to cultivate and encourage visionary entrepreneurs.
Our focus is on assisting founders to innovate strategically and address real-world challenges effectively. We emphasise the importance of executing the right innovations in the right way.
To fulfil this mission, Sunil Bhatia Start-up Resource Hub (SBSRH) offers a platform for start-ups to sharpen their understanding of the ecosystem, connect with the right people, and gain the insights needed to thrive. Through various events, workshops, and engagements, we help entrepreneurs build a foundation based on strong principles and strategic vision.
SBSRH supports grassroots entrepreneurship through one-month virtual bootcamps aimed at equipping early-stage founders with essential tools for building successful start-ups. Focused on themes of responsible finance and sustainability, these bootcamps provide start-ups with over 15 hours of insightful curriculum, expert-led sessions on current trends and challenges, and personalised coaching to guide start-ups on their journey.
These events, organised in partnership with incubators and government start-up agencies, provide start-ups the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, mentors, and experts. The objective is to validate product ideas, provide constructive feedback, and offer recognition through grants or cash prizes for the top pitches.
This is an informal networking event with pizzas where entrepreneurs can bounce their innovative ideas, gain spontaneous feedback, and connect with key stakeholders in the start-up ecosystem. Since September 27, 2024, and held on the last Friday of each month, the event showcases five to 10 entrepreneurs delivering 10-minute pitches to an audience of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and other industry players. The aim is to cultivate a casual platform for networking and idea exchange.
These mixers bring together a diverse group of experts, start-up founders, corporates, investors, and like-minded professionals. These sessions facilitate meaningful discussions on pressing topics, helping founders gain valuable insights and build relationships within the ecosystem.
Our online masterclasses dive deep into crucial start-up topics such as go-to-market (GTM) strategies, financing, valuation, and other vital aspects of building and scaling a business. Led by industry leaders, these sessions are designed to equip founders with the knowledge they need to succeed.
At SBSRH, we believe that with the right guidance, resources, and community, start-ups can overcome challenges and scale new heights. Our goal is to empower India’s next generation of entrepreneurs, helping them turn innovative ideas into impactful, sustainable businesses.
Join us at SBSRH, where we are shaping the future of entrepreneurship in India.