My Tryst with Entrepreneurship at Ashoka: From Startup Ashoka to ENT TAship and Project Lead
Vamika traces her engagement with Entrepreneurship in her time at Ashoka and the many hats she got to slip into at the Centre.
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“Hey, does anyone want to team up for Startup Ashoka?”
Sitting at home during the pandemic, I thought, why not? I replied to that message in our batch group, and that’s how my journey with entrepreneurship and the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Ashoka University began. We formed a team of six and started working on an idea we had to present the next day. This 24-hour startup pitching competition, conducted online, kept us up all night on a video call as we crafted our pitch deck. Little did we know we’d win the 2nd runner-up prize in our first year! That was when the seed of entrepreneurship was planted in my mind.
Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Following that, I enrolled in my first entrepreneurship course, “Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset,” taught by Prof. Mukesh Sud from IIMA. This course was markedly different from the classic economics courses I had taken before. It included assignments in the form of videos, case studies, one-pagers, and interviews. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and helped me interview Mr. Ronnie Screwvala, the co-founder of upGrad, founder of UTV, and a film producer for my midterm assignment.
Expanding My Knowledge Base
Each entrepreneurship course I took marked a new milestone in my academic journey. My second course, “Accounting and Financial Statements” by Deepali Singh (Founder, The WallstreetWiz), was my attempt to determine if finance was the right major for me. Despite being a challenging course for a second-year student with no background in accounting or finance, I still refer to my notes from that class. Deepali’s engaging teaching style made this course memorable for someone who had studied PCM in the 12th grade.
Next came “Private Equity and Venture Capital” by Sridhar Sethuram (Partner & MD, Suyash Advisors), the most energetic professor I’ve met. This course taught me the importance of admitting when you don’t know something, rather than pretending to have all the answers. The concept of Risk Return Investment Mindset was deeply ingrained in us, a lesson that will stay with me forever, along with Sridhar’s infectious enthusiasm.
Becoming a Teaching Assistant
A significant goal during my time at Ashoka was to become a Teaching Assistant (TA), and I’m grateful to CfE for giving me the opportunity. My first TA experience was with Shradha Agarwal, the CEO of Grapes Digital, who taught “Integrated Digital Marketing Strategy.” Her industry experience and candid nature provided me with invaluable insights into marketing.
In my last semester, I was the TA for “Strategies for Revenue Leadership” by Gaurav Rastogi (Founder, DoLoop Digital), the best course I encountered at Ashoka. This game-based course involved client meeting simulations in every class and healthy competition between teams, offering practical experience in engaging with clients, building rapport, and selling products or services. As a TA, I enjoyed the dual roles of student and instructor. Gaurav and I spent countless hours perfecting the course structure, and the classroom learnings and experience prepared me for my upcoming consulting role. This TA role not only enhanced my academic knowledge but also taught me vital lessons in people management and relationship building. The course concluded with a unique memento, which will always be close to my heart—an accordion summarizing all course learnings, complete with team and individual business cards.
Extracurricular Engagements
Beyond coursework, CfE provided me with numerous extracurricular opportunities. I served as the emcee for Shark Tank Ashoka for two consecutive years and moderated two fireside chats—one with Gaurav Srinagesh, CEO of Penguin Random House, and another with Dr. Saneesh Edacherian, Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham. In my last semester, I became the Team Lead and Coordinator for the Off-Beat 2.0, where I worked with 12 student volunteers to interview 25 Ashoka-preneurs to showcase their journeys in the startup ecosystem through a magazine. All these opportunities provided by CfE to me served as an amazing platform for me to network, grow, and learn.
The Supportive CfE Team
The CfE team treated me like family. Professor Priyank, one of the coolest professors at Ashoka, provided a platform to express my ideas. Ekanto was the go-to person for any problem or advice. Shubham’s relatable nature and readiness to help, Shaifali’s sweet and approachable demeanor, Suhesh’s warm presence and listening ear, Susanth’s energetic and innovative spirit, and Pavan ji’s indispensable support in setting up TA classrooms—all made my experience at CfE invaluable.
Reflecting on My Journey
I take immense pride in being one of the few Ecofin majors who completed a concentration in entrepreneurship within three years, despite the demanding curriculum of nine mandatory foundation courses along with my major requirements. Although I don’t have a startup of my own yet, I am confident that the entrepreneurial skills and mindset I’ve developed at Ashoka and CfE will be instrumental in all my future endeavors. I eagerly anticipate reaching out to CfE once I start my own venture.
Author: Vamika Dadoo (UG 24), vamika.dadoo@alumni.ashoka.edu.in
