MU20 Entrepreneurship Conclave
India’s most prestigious stage for the next generation of founders, innovators, and problem-solvers
2025-26
MU20 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONCLAVE
Welcome to the MU20 Entrepreneurship Conclave, India’s most prestigious stage for the next generation of founders, innovators, and problem-solvers. Co-created by MU20 School of Opportunity and the ISB I-Venture Immersive (ivi), this platform is a bold declaration that ventures begin young, and the future of entrepreneurship begins now.
We believe that entrepreneurship is the most critical life skill for the architects of tomorrow. In a world of constant change, the ability to think bigger, build faster, and pitch louder is not just an advantage, it is a necessity. Building on the incredible success of VentureVerse, this conclave is the national movement to embed that mindset at a formative age, scaled for maximum impact.
The MU20 Entrepreneurship Conclave is where teenage dreamers take their first real steps into the world of startups. Held at ISB I-Venture this is a high-impact sprint designed to test your limits. Over two intense days, you won’t just learn about entrepreneurship, you will live it. You will be mentored by India’s top founders, challenged by real-time innovation sprints, and pushed to forge boardroom-ready ideas under pressure.
This is your invitation to answer the call. If you are ready to move from concept to reality, to stand before investors and prove your mettle, your journey starts here at ISB I-Venture, where billion-dollar ideas are born.
The Crucible of Innovation
ISB I-Venture is the innovation and entrepreneurship arm of the Indian School of Business (ISB), dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and nurturing early-stage startups. As the umbrella body for ISB’s entrepreneurship initiatives, it brings together DLabs, AIC ISB, and ivi to create a holistic start-to-scale ecosystem supporting ventures at every stage, from idea validation to market launch and sustainable growth.
DLabs, the incubation and acceleration arm at the Hyderabad campus, and AIC ISB, at the Mohali campus, provide collaborative incubation, mentoring, funding, and access to a vibrant entrepreneurial community. ivi, a six-month full-time residential program, immerses founders in hands-on venture-building, structured learning, and investor engagement. ISB I-Venture also fosters multidisciplinary research and academic programs that strengthen entrepreneurial mindset and rigour. By leveraging a robust network of mentors, venture capitalists, and academicians, ISB I-Venture ensures startups gain the guidance, resources, and opportunities needed to scale successfully in India’s dynamic and fast-evolving startup ecosystem.
The Legacy of Success ISB I-Venture
When you compete at the conclave, you are stepping into a proven launchpad for unicorns and market leaders. The numbers speak for themselves
500+ experts engaged
800+ startups supported
100+ startups raised funding
₹4,000 Cr+
3,500+ jobs created
The Gauntlet
A Trial of Skill, Speed, and Strategy
The MU20 Entrepreneurship Conclave is built on a powerful principle: entrepreneurs are forged, not just taught. Our competition framework, The Gauntlet, is an immersive trial designed to transform insight into action.
You will learn directly from industry masters and immediately test your new knowledge under pressure. This is where theory meets execution. The entire competition is structured around a dynamic "learn-then-do" cycle, repeated across three core business pillars.
The Core Loop: From Masterclass to Presentation
Each of the three tracks follows an identical, high-stakes process:
The Masterclass: You begin by learning from a titan of the industry, a seasoned founder, investor, or domain specialist who has navigated the very challenges you're about to face. They will deliver focused talks, share practical insights, and equip you with a new set of tools.
The On-the-Spot Challenge: Immediately following the masterclass, the clock starts ticking. Your team will receive a new prompt, a specific industry problem or a business case to solve. With limited preparation time, you must apply the concepts you've just learned to build a viable solutions from the ground up.
VENTURE BUILDING
The Two Pillars of Venture Building
You will prove your mettle across two distinct, full-day tracks:
Track A: Launchpad Velocity
Work through rapid ideation, user need analysis, and quick prototyping to turn a raw concept into a functional and desirable product design.
This track is dedicated to the genesis of your venture. You will delve into identifying genuine market needs and translating them into innovative solutions. Through hands-on activities, you'll learn to quickly prototype your ideas, transforming abstract concepts into tangible Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) that are ready for initial validation and refinement.
Track B: Venture Velocity
Learn to shape market positioning and craft a sharp, compelling brand message. You'll then build and present a launch-ready campaign designed to convert attention into real traction, while also considering the financial viability of your venture.
This pillar propels your venture forward by focusing on market entry and sustainable growth. You'll learn to build a powerful brand identity and narrative that captivates your target audience. Crucially, you will also gain essential financial literacy, covering pricing logic, break-even analysis, and cash-flow mapping to ensure every strategic decision is backed by sound financial planning and executed with speed.
The Final Ascent
The Grand Pitch Showdown
After enduring the three sprints, your final challenge awaits. The Grand Pitch Showdown is the culmination of your journey. Unlike the impromptu sprints, your team will arrive at the conclave with an elevator pitch you have already honed at home. On the final day, you will step onto the main stage for a five-minute, high-stakes presentation to the grand jury, a formidable panel of founders who have built companies from scratch and investors who scout and fund early-stage talent.
This isn't a classroom exercise; it's a boardroom simulation where your idea, your strategy, and your conviction will be put to the ultimate test. At the heart of the MU20 Entrepreneurship Conclave is the belief in learning from those who have already built the future. We provide unparalleled access to the founders, investors, and operators who solve problems at scale every day. These are not just speakers; they are your mentors, your critics, and your jury.
Prepare to engage with a curated panel of India's most influential business minds. Throughout the conclave, you will interact directly with iconic founders who have built companies from the ground up, top-tier venture capitalists who fund the next wave of innovation, and seasoned C-suite executives from the country's fastest- growing startups.
These leaders will provide focused talks, lead Q&A blocks, and deliver the rigorous, expert feedback necessary to refine your ideas. When you present, expect pointed questions and practical advice from the very people who build businesses for a living. The final lineup of our esteemed jury and mentorship panel will be unveiled soon, promising an unparalleled opportunity for direct engagement with the architects of modern business.
The Unrivaled Advantage
Competing at the MU20 Entrepreneurship Conclave provides you an opportunity to invest in your future. The Conclave will help you to gain the skills, network, and exposure that will set you apart.
Mentorship
Receive direct guidance from founders, investors, and operators who build world-class businesses for a living. This is your chance to get an expert lens on your ideas.
Boardroom-Ready Communication
Learn to craft a product story, a market plan, and a financial case that can stand up to the toughest scrutiny, ensuring your ideas are communicated with clarity and confidence.
Real-World Pressure Testing
The conclave's three impromptu sprints are designed to sharpen your decision-making under real deadlines, preparing you for the high-stakes environment of the startup world.
A Lifelong Network
Connect with the most ambitious peers from across the country and gain entry into the prestigious ISB innovation circle, building relationships that last long after the competition ends.
Experience life inside India's leading private B-school, with full access to its world-class facilities. This is a chance to live and breathe innovation in an environment where billion-dollar ideas are born.
ANSWER THE CALL
WHEN WHERE TEAMS
22-23 November 2025 ISB, Hyderabad Campus
3 Students/team High School Students
(Maximum 4 teams per school)
₹25,000 per student
Stay & Meals
Triple occupancy student stay at a partner hotel near the ISB campus.
8 meals across 2 days - 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 high teas.
