Location : Babson College , Massachusetts
The Babson Build program is designed to take inside the new venture creation process. Students will learn the steps for bringing business ideas to life, through classes that blend entrepreneurship with experiential learning. Explore different topics throughout the program, bringing everything together in the final Rocket Pitch.
A total of 23 students from Kumaraguru institutions — KCLAS, KCT, and KI — participated in the program, comprising 9 boys and 14 girls across various undergraduate disciplines. The student representation included 11 students from BBA, 4 from BBA International Business, 1 from B.Com Professional Accounting, 2 from B.Com, 1 from B.A. Political Science, 1 from B.Sc. Data Science, 2 from B.E. Computer Science (KSI), and 1 from B.Tech Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. The students were accompanied by two faculty members: Dr. A. Dayala Rajan from KCLAS and Mr. Saravanan C from KCT, bringing the total delegation size to 25 members.
Consolidated Report Compiled by: Dr. A. Dayala Rajan, Dy. Dean, Academics & Advance Learning, KCLAS
DAY 1
Date: July 7, 2025
Theme of the Day: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Opportunity Mapping, Market Validation, and Design Thinking
Session I: Entrepreneurial Thought & Action (ET&A)
Facilitator: Prof. George
Title: Foundations of Entrepreneurial Thought and Action
Prof. George introduced participants to Babson’s flagship ET&A (Entrepreneurial Thought & Action) framework, encouraging students to embrace agile, action-based learning. Two experiential exercises anchored this session:
- Marshmallow
Simulated startup constraints by having teams build structures using limited resources—fostering rapid prototyping and iterative learning.
- Passion Deck Exercise
Helped students reflect on personal interests and align them with entrepreneurial opportunities through structured peer discussions.
Prof. George also oriented students on the Rocket Pitch Competition, emphasizing key aspects:
- Problem articulation
- Solution framing
- Confident storytelling within strict time limits
Student Outcomes:
- Understood the ET&A mindset
- Identified core passions and potential venture directions
- Began shaping Rocket Pitch ideas with clarity and purpose
Session II:
Opportunity Identification & Market Analysis
Facilitator: Prof. Zacharakis
Title: : From Problem to Potential – Opportunity Assessment through Case Study
Students analysed a real-world case titled “Waste to Energy”, identifying entrepreneurial opportunities and assessing feasibility.
Activities Included:
- Market segmentation and needs analysis
- Scalability assessment
- Value proposition development
- Due Diligence Exercise using structured frameworks to analyze:
- Market size
- Technical and financial feasibility
- Competitive landscape
- Revenue potential
Student Outcomes:
- Developed skills in market validation and feasibility analysis
- Applied evaluation tools to Rocket Pitch concepts
- Gained insight into transforming abstract ideas into viable opportunities
Faculty Takeaways
- Begin with engaging ice-breakers
- Use experiential tools to sustain engagement
- Allocate time for reflection and peer exchange
- Encourage diverse teamwork
- Integrate global business cases for perspective building
Day 2
Session I
Date: July 8, 2025
Theme of the Day: Entrepreneurial Negotiations
Facilitator: Prof. Crosina
Session Title: Mastering Negotiation for Entrepreneurial Success
This session explored the principles and practice of entrepreneurial negotiation, emphasizing the importance of preparation, timing, emotional control, and clarity in achieving win-win outcomes. The session was interactive and experiential, grounded in real-world negotiation contexts.
Learning Activities
– Icebreaker for Latecomers: Emphasized respecting time as a sign of commitment and reliability.
– Movie Clip Analysis – “Just Go with It”: Highlighted differences between effective and ineffective negotiation behaviors.
– Personal Negotiation Flow Activity: Encouraged students to reflect on a personal negotiation and chart their negotiation flow.
– Introduction to BATNA: Helped students understand the framework of Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA).
– Entrepreneurial Negotiation Simulation – Co-Founder Scenario: Role-play based team negotiation on equity, roles, and responsibilities.
– JR & KB Model Case Study: Explored interests vs. positions, fairness, contribution, and long-term impact in partnerships.
Learning Objectives:
– Understand the importance of time and preparation in negotiation.
– Learn to identify what makes a negotiation successful or not.
– Develop a personal negotiation flow and apply BATNA framework.
– Experience co-founder startup negotiations.
– Analyze a real-life negotiation case to draw long-term insights.
Student Outcomes:
Students reflected on their own negotiation experiences, applied BATNA, avoided common negotiation pitfalls, practiced communication in simulations, and gained insight from real-world negotiation cases.
Day 3
Date: July 09, 2025
Theme of the Day: Entrepreneurial Finance
Facilitator: Prof. Zacharakis
Session Title: Understanding Entrepreneurial Financial Strategy
Prof. Zacharakis introduced students to the essentials of entrepreneurial finance, focusing on funding lifecycles, risk assessment, and valuation strategies. Through practical simulations and business scenarios, students explored:
- – Capital acquisition stages: bootstrapping, angel investors, and venture capital.
- – Cost of capital and return expectations
- – Cash flow forecasting and break-even analysis.
- – Entrepreneurial risk and financial decision-making.
- – The role of storytelling in attracting investors.
The session emphasized developing financial acumen and aligning financial strategies with entrepreneurial goals.
Day 4
Date: July 10, 2025
Theme: Entrepreneurial Finance – Understanding the Financial Backbone of Startups
Facilitator: Prof. Zacharakis
Session Title: Financing the Entrepreneurial Journey – Tools, Tactics, and Investor Perspectives
Session Overview
The fourth day of the Babson Build program focused on Entrepreneurial Finance, a critical dimension in transforming entrepreneurial ideas into viable, fundable ventures. Led by Prof. Zacharakis, the session unpacked the fundamentals of financial thinking for start-ups—ranging from bootstrapping and budgeting to venture capital and valuation.
This session was designed not only to demystify financial concepts but to equip students with a decision-making lens for managing capital and understanding investor expectations.
Key Learning Activities & Concepts
The Lifecycle of Start-up Financing
Prof. Zacharakis walked students through the funding journey of start-ups—from self-funding and friends/family rounds to angel investment, venture capital, and private equity. Emphasis was laid on the timing and suitability of each funding source based on the start-up’s stage and growth objectives.
Understanding Unit Economics & Cash Flow
Students were introduced to basic financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) and their application in early-stage decision-making. Focus was given to burn rate, runway, and break-even analysis—key concepts for any founder seeking sustainability.
Valuation Techniques in Early-Stage Ventures
Through case studies and classroom exercises, students explored how to estimate start-up valuation using tools such as:
- Comparable company analysis
- Discounted cash flow (DCF)
- Risk-adjusted return expectations
Interactive Pitch & Capital Ask Exercise
Students were divided into teams and asked to simulate a start-up pitch to investors, where they had to define:
- How much capital they needed
- How it would be used
- What equity they were willing to offer
- What return investors could expect
This reinforced the link between business goals, financial needs, and investor decision-making.
A role-play activity had students switch sides to play investors, evaluating startup pitches. This helped them develop investor empathy and understand what financial diligence and risk analysis look like from the other side of the table.
Learning Objectives
- To understand how financial models inform entrepreneurial strategy and growth
- To analyze key metrics like burn rate, runway, and unit economics
- To evaluate various sources of funding and their pros/cons
- To learn the basics of startup valuation
- To practice capital raising through simulated investor pitches
- To develop financial storytelling for entrepreneurial communication
Student Outcomes
By the end of the session, students were able to:
- Understand the capital needs of startups and appropriate funding options
- Apply tools to estimate basic valuation and analyze financial viability
- Align business planning with financial forecasting
- Communicate financial needs persuasively in a pitch scenario
- Interpret entrepreneurial finance not just as a numbers game, but as a strategic language that aligns investors and founders
Faculty Observations
- Students who were initially apprehensive about finance gained confidence through real-world simulations
- Cross-functional teams enabled students to combine business creativity with financial logic
- The investor role-play deepened awareness of what makes a venture financially credible and fundable
Day 5
Rocket Pitch Participation
Date: July 11, 2025
Participating Institution: Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Science (KCLAS)
Participation Summary
Total Number of Students from KCLAS: 23
Batches Participated: 2
Teams in Each Batch:
- – Batch 1: 10 Teams
- – Batch 2: 10 Teams
Number of Participating Countries: 11
Countries Represented: India, Brazil, Portugal, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Guatemala, Spain, Argentina, Nigeria, Chile
Winning Teams & Pitch Ideas
Team 10: Batch 1 – Winner
Pitch: Poly Bricks – Recycled plastic bricks for green construction.
Team Members: Aishwarya PS (KCLAS, India), Debora Mendes (Portugal), Harshvardhan Singh & Sanat Goyal (Masters Union, India)
Team 10: Batch 1 – Runner
Pitch: Online platform for service booking in Latin America.
Team Members: Aashritha Rao (KCLAS, India), Joaquin Francisco (ULIMA, Peru), Harshvardhan Singh & Sanat Goyal (Masters Union, India)
Team 7: Batch 2 – Winner
Pitch: Castoff – Sustainable air purifiers from textile waste.
Team Members: Harshini, Kavya Sri (KCLAS, India), Barbara Vejares & Karla Burgos (Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile)
Team 7: Batch 2 – Runner
Pitch: Smart Baggage Tag for real-time luggage tracking.
Team Members: Mounesh, Pon Sivananth (KCLAS, India), Mathews (Canada), Rafael (FIAP, Brazil)
Observations and Recommendations: Course and Cohort Preparation for Babson Program
1. Preparatory Work and Curriculum Alignment
To ensure students derive maximum value from such programs, it is imperative that adequate preparatory work is undertaken at least a semester in advance. The following areas must be part of a structured pre-immersion curriculum:
- Foundations of Entrepreneurship
- Design Thinking and Innovation
- Business Finance
- Entrepreneurial Negotiations
- Business Models and Value Creation
In addition to the above, there must be focused skill-building modules on:
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Teamwork
These preparatory sessions should culminate in a final pitch presentation, based on which eligible students may be selected to travel to Babson or any other immersions on Business & Entrepreneurship. Participation should be merit-based, ensuring that students are not only choosing the pathway but are also demonstrating readiness and commitment.
It is also crucial that stakeholders such as parents, the FORGE team, and other relevant units of KI are involved early in the preparation process to ensure holistic support and mentoring for the selected cohort.
2. Feedback on Course Content at Babson
While the Babson brand offers international exposure, the content delivered during the recent program was observed to be very foundational in nature, and did not meet the expectations for deep, intensive learning. Given the premium cost involved, it is important to assess the return on learning and explore alternate institutions that offer more rigorous and academically enriching experiences.
One notable concern was the lack of post-session engagement, such as discussion forums, reading assignments, and reflective exercises—components that are standard
in leading institutions like IIMs. These elements are essential to deepen understanding and apply learnings in meaningful ways.
3. Recommendations for Future Cohorts
Curriculum Revision: Include more advanced and experiential learning elements in collaboration with faculty and industry experts.
Rigorous Selection Process: Base international immersion eligibility on preparedness, pitch performance, and participation in all preparatory modules.
Institute Evaluation: Explore partnerships with institutions that provide deeper, application-oriented learning experiences, possibly beyond Babson.
Post-Session Engagement: Insist on structured post-session activities such as reading assignments, peer discussions, and reflective assessments.
By implementing these suggestions, we can ensure that our students not only receive global exposure but also return with a truly transformative learning experience.