Samaadhan 2015 - Reflecting on the Past, Shaping the Future

"To learn, earn and then return - these are the three phases of life" - Jack Balousek.

Today, these three phases have collapsed and are being lived simultaneously by the new age student entrepreneurs. Samaadhan - a social entrepreneurship B-plan contest was organized by the Consulting and Entrepreneurship Club of IIM Raipur on 12^th September, 2015 for this thriving student social entrepreneur community. The event was judged by Mr. Shantanu Modak, founder Director, Bookshelf Academy Pvt. Ltd and Mr. Saurabh Choubey, Director, IMS Learning Center Raipur and founder of Catalyst Education. Mr. Saurabh, an alumnus of IIM Raipur, and Mr. Shantanu, both social entrepreneurs, are well aware of the challenges to any new business venture and have overcome many of these in their own ventures.

The event was an effort to encourage and motivate the budding entrepreneurs to generate new and innovative ideas to tackle pressing social problems of the society as well as make the effort financially sustainable.

The event saw participation of more than 180 teams from premier B-schools across India such as other IIM’s, FMS Delhi, ISB, IIT Bombay (SJMSOM), MDI Gurgaon, etc. Ten teams were shortlisted for the final round who then had to present their idea through video conferencing. Business ideas to help the physically challenged, promote indigenous products, skill development programs, health problems and waste management were put forth with clarity and intricate details by each of the participating teams. A detailed business model, supply chain margins, financial statements forecasts, the teams had them all planned out. The passion and zeal with which each wanted to make a difference to the society was visible in the gleam of the eyes of each participant.

 The judges were very interested and intrigued by the business ideas presented. They tested every possible aspect involved in these plans through an intense question and answers process. After the whole process it was teams “Tripods” and “Social Fly” from ISB, Hyderabad which emerged as winners of the event.