PRIME conducted it Outdoor Bootcamp for the 3rd Cohort of entrepreneurs at Umkhakoi, Mawlyngbna, East Khasi Hills District from the 3rd – 6th April 2023. The outdoor bootcamp was conducted with the aim to enable the entrepreneurs to learn the most important concepts of entrepreneurship in a natural surrounding that can spark inspiration and innovative ideas instead of being confined to four walls. .
The entrepreneurs and PRIME team were accommodated in tents where they camped by a lake. Knowledge sessions are conducted at 10 AM for the entrepreneurs till 2 PM. These sessions were taken over by resource persons – Shri. Subrangshu Sanyal, CEO, IIMCIP and Shri. Sanjoy Sen, Mentor, IIMCIP.
Shri. Subrangshu Sanyal kicked off the session by speaking about an entrepreneurial dream and continued by asking the entrepreneurs an important question “Why is it important to have a dream?” He also created an interactive atmosphere by giving each entrepreneur a chance to speak about their entrepreneurial dreams. He said that regardless of whichever business that entrepreneurs venture into, they need to work towards being the best. He also discussed on the various types of customer base – B-B, B-C, B-G & D-C and the importance of identifying customers, studying customer behaviour, customer feedback, different strategies of reaching out to targeted customers, satisfying customer needs, segmentation of HoReCa institutions and focusing specifically on a targeted segment.
The “Ladder to Success” was explained and discussed by both resource persons – Shri. Subrangshu Sanyal and Shri. Sanjoy Sen who is also the Mentor under IIMCIP. The various topics covered under the ladder to success are – Understanding customer, Understanding customer needs, Right products, Right activities, Right resources, Right pricing, Right promotion, Right distribution, Right operation and lastly, the Right profit along with a step-by-step explanation on how to achieve these goals.
Shri. Sanjoy Sen also gave the entrepreneurs a number of workbooks for them to work on that would help them understand crucial data needed towards improving their startups along with strategies on how to acquire all necessary information. .
Apart from the lectures and interactive sessions, the entrepreneurs also participated in ice-breaking sessions that were held daily to motivate and give them a chance to connect and network with one another. Other activities were also conducted which were essential to boost the entrepreneurs’ confidence and equip them with the necessary skills to pitch to investors in the future.
After the sessions, the entrepreneurs were also taken on a short trek to places with historical importance.
The Bootcamp resulted in entrepreneurs gaining crucial skills in their journey as entrepreneurs, connecting with each other and collaborations between startups also took place.