Young Scholars Programme: Entrepreneurship, Business and Leadership

Young Scholars Programme: Entrepreneurship, Business and Leadership

Build Knowledge, Foster Connections, and Create Influence

YSP Entrepreneurship, Business and Leadership (YSP EBL) is a certified, immersive, and experiential five-day residential programme tailored for ambitious students entering grades 9, 10, 11 & 12. A practitioner-led journey through the various stages of building a successful business, from idea to execution, along with leadership workshops. Includes workshops on data led decision making, strategic thinking & communication & VC.

Our mission is to nurture the future world leaders, and our comprehensive programme is designed for high-schoolers who aspire to drive change across various domains, including entrepreneurship, diverse businesses, corporate ventures, or start their own ventures. The programme is thoughtfully designed to empower and equip participants for success in their chosen field from idea to execution. Students will engage with industry partitioners such as Kartik Desai, Vani Dandia and Deepali Singh, seasoned entrepreneurs such as Jaspreet Bindra, Aditya Ghosh and Sanjeev Bikhchandani and other experts such as Prof Priyank Narayan and Prof Advaita Rajendran. Fundamentals of branding, finance, marketing and communication and the journey from idea to execution is covered using innovative pedagogical techniques such as case studies, peer collaboration and dialogic discussion sessions.

Take your idea to execution

Dive deep into the fundamentals of business planning, opportunity analysis, finance, marketing, innovation, and more. Our curriculum is a harmonious blend of theoretical insights and hands-on experiences, ensuring students grasp the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. We emphasize cultivating essential leadership skills and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Students also enhance their proficiency in persuasive communication, collaboration, and grasping group dynamics. YSP EBL is the perfect space to bring questions that plague the mind of all self-starters, you may discover answers to questions like – how does an entrepreneur minimize risks in new ventures? Are businesses always profit-minded? How do social entrepreneurs make profits? What are the next disruptive ideas? How can data guide us to make intelligent business decisions? Why is empathy a necessary attribute of a leader?

At YSP EBL, we don’t just teach; we inspire. Whether you’re gearing up for college applications or envisioning a future entrepreneurial venture, YSP EBL provides the tools and knowledge to set you on the right path.

Beyond academic enrichment, YSP EBL offers a holistic college experience. Scholars reside in student dormitories, savor meals at Ashoka’s diverse dining facilities, engage in sports activities and activities such as Talent Night, Networking Night, Quizzes, Debates and so on. Our scholars forge lasting bonds with like-minded peers from across India and the globe. It’s an immersive journey into the world of entrepreneurship, business development and leadership development, fostering curiosity, collaboration, and innovation.

Hands-on projects at YSP EBL

At YSP EBL, students participate in individual or group workshops, diving deep into hands-on projects. These sessions span real-time case studies, market trend analysis, sustainable business brainstorming, and strategies for fundraising. These workshops bridge theoretical learning from faculty sessions with practical application, enhancing problem-solving and innovation. Through this blend, YSP EBL equips students to navigate entrepreneurial challenges, challenge conventional thinking, and lead with clarity, creativity and purpose.

By the end of the programme, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the entrepreneurship and business landscape in India and globally. They will be equipped with a unique toolkit that will enable and empower them to take their ideas to execution and scaling.

 

📢 Applications for YSP 2025 are now open!

With limited seats and rolling admissions, apply early to secure your spot. 

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Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

-Students will gain a strong understanding of core business principles, including business models, financial management, marketing strategies, and organizational structures.
-Students will explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including how to identify opportunities, conduct market research, and develop a business plan.
-Students will understand the role of leadership in business and entrepreneurship, exploring different leadership styles and how effective leadership drives organizational success.
-Students will learn about the global business landscape, exploring how innovation, technology, and sustainability impact modern business practices and entrepreneurial ventures.

Skills:

-Students will develop the skills to create and present a comprehensive business plan, including financial projections, marketing strategies, and operational goals.
-Problem-Solving and Innovation: Students will learn to approach challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset, using creativity and critical thinking to generate innovative solutions.
-Through group activities and projects, students will enhance their leadership and collaboration skills, learning how to motivate teams, delegate responsibilities, and drive collective success.
-Pitching and Presentation: Students will hone their communication skills, learning how to effectively pitch their business ideas to potential investors, partners, or stakeholders.

Attitude:

-Students will develop a proactive and solution-oriented entrepreneurial mindset, recognizing opportunities where others see challenges and being willing to take calculated risks.
-Students will cultivate resilience, learning to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success and adapting to changing circumstances in the entrepreneurial journey.
-Students will adopt an ethical approach to business, understanding the importance of integrity, fairness, and responsibility in leadership and decision-making.
-Students will develop an appreciation for the global business environment, understanding how entrepreneurship and business practices vary across cultures and regions.

Applications:

-Students will apply their knowledge by developing and executing a business project or entrepreneurial venture, from concept development to market research and implementation.
-Students will take on leadership roles in team projects, applying their leadership and management skills to guide their peers through the development of a collaborative business or entrepreneurial initiative.
-Students will participate in business simulations and case studies, applying innovative thinking and business strategies to solve real-world business problems.
-Students will create and deliver a professional pitch for their business idea or project, incorporating feedback from instructors and peers to refine their approach.

Sample Schedule

Faculty sessions delve into subjects such as ethical entrepreneurship, venture development, associated risks, consumer and market research and the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship in the post-Covid era. Students will not only engage with case studies, historical contexts, and real-world challenges filled with ethical dilemmas but also participate in daily workshops. These workshops offer hands-on experience with live projects, ranging from analyzing current market trends, crafting sustainable business models, to developing strategies for successful ventures. Such immersive experiences, combined with foundational theories of entrepreneurship, aim to nurture their critical thinking, design thinking, and leadership skills.  Through YSP EBL, students are equipped with the knowledge and practical tools to drive meaningful change in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and leadership. The aim is to equip students with the knowledge and tools to take their idea and make it a real entity.

The five-day residential programme entails interdisciplinary faculty sessions that discuss the state of entrepreneurship, leadership, impact, their interconnectedness with each other, and other diverse fields.  The sessions are enhanced by an addition of simulating workshops in the second half of the day. These workshops are designed to foster innovation and creative thinking, build leadership skills that include pitching, presentation, and organizational management skills.

A schedule for YSP EBL is given below*

YSP EBL Programme Schedule

Sample Faculty

Priyank Narayan

Head of the Department, Entrepreneurship,
Director, InfoEdge Centre for Entrepreneurship, Ashoka University

Ph.D, IIT Delhi

Kartik Desai

Visiting Faculty, Department of Entrepreneurship, Ashoka University

Advaita Rajendra

Visiting Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Ashoka University

Ph.D. IIM Ahmedabad

Vani Gupta Dandia

Visiting Faculty, Department of Entrepreneurship, Ashoka University

Independent Business Consultant, CherryPeachPlum Growth Partners

Deepali Singh

Visiting Faculty, Department of Entrepreneurship, Ashoka University

Founder and CEO, The WallstreetWiz

Sample Inspiring Speakers

Jack Szostak

Nobel Laureate

Pramath Raj Sinha

Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Ashoka University
Founder and MD, Harappa Education
Founder and MD, 9.9 Group
Founding Dean, ISB
Visiting Faculty, Young India Fellowship

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

Deep Kalra

Founder, MakeMyTrip

BA Economics, St. Stephen’s College
MBA, IIM Ahmedabad

Sanjeev Bikhchandani

Founder and Vice-Chairman, Info Edge (Naukri.com)
Visiting Faculty, Young India Fellowship

BA, St. Stephen’s College
MBA, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad 

Ashish Dhawan

Founding Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Ashoka University
Advisory Council, The Isaac Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance, Ashoka University
Founder and Chairman, Central Square Foundation

BS, Yale University
MBA, Harvard University

K. VijayRaghavan

Former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India

Somak Raychaudhury

Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Physics, Ashoka University

Ph.D. University of Cambridge

FAQs

1) What is The Young Scholars Programme: Entrepreneurship, Business, and Leadership (YSP EBL)?

YSP Entrepreneurship, Business, and Leadership (YSP EBL) is a certified, immersive, and experiential five-day residential programme tailored for ambitious students entering grades 9, 10, 11 & 12. A practitioner-led journey through the various stages of building a successful business, from idea to execution, along with leadership workshops. Includes workshops on data led decision making, strategic thinking & communication & VC.

2) Is YSP EBL, an online or offline event?

YSP EBL is a five-day programme to be held in person at Ashoka Campus.

3) What is liberal arts and sciences education?

Liberal Arts & Sciences education celebrates discussion and debate in the classroom. A Liberal Arts & Science education focuses on providing critical thinking skills and multiple perspectives to students, which is considered an essential part of leading an ethical and purposeful life. Essentially, it incorporates breadth and depth across multiple disciplines.

4) Do we get a certificate for attending The Young Scholars Programme?

Yes, students will be given a certificate on successful completion of the programme, provided all sessions are attended and there has been desirable participation by the student. Upon receipt of your certificate, please save it securely for your use later on. However, if you happen to lose it, a second copy of the certificate will be provided which will be chargeable for a sum of Rs. 500/-

5) Will attending the programme increase my chances of getting admission to the undergraduate programme at Ashoka University?

Attending the programme will give you an insight on liberal arts & sciences education and the Ashoka pedagogy. This will surely help you with your undergraduate application form at Ashoka University. However, this does not guarantee admission to the Ashoka UG programme.