Name of Event: “Zero to Launch”
Keynote Speaker: Mr. Siddharth Prabhakar
Organized by: Pillai University, New Panvel
Date & Venue: 8th October, 2026 | 7th Floor Auditorium
Nature of Audience: Postgraduate Business & Management Students (M.B.A.)
Number of Attendees: Approximately 100-150 students
Entrepreneurship: Key Insights from the “Zero to Launch” Session
On 8th October, 2026, Pillai University, New Panvel, conducted an insightful entrepreneurship session for MBA students. The session was led by Guest lecturer Siddharth Prabhakar, who shared practical knowledge about entrepreneurship through his own ventures, experiences, stories, and real-life situations. The session focused on helping students understand that entrepreneurship is not limited to having a large amount of money or a completely new idea; it is also about identifying opportunities, building relationships, taking initiative, and thinking differently.
Understanding Business Opportunities: The speaker began by explaining the different types of businesses that students can explore. He encouraged students to look beyond conventional career options and identify business opportunities based on their skills, interests, market needs, and available resources.
Entrepreneurial Journey and Learning School: The guest lecturer shared his personal entrepreneurship ventures and spoke about his successful venture, “CelebritySchool.in.” His experiences gave students an understanding of the efforts required to build a business. He also discussed his two-year MBA journey in America and explained how exposure to different people, ideas, and environments contributed to his personal and professional growth.
Understanding Students and Building Communities: An important part of the session was understanding the different types of students present in colleges, their interests, abilities, behaviour, and aspirations. He also showed how a business can be started with little or no financial investment by first forming a strong community.
Learning through Stories and Real-Life Scenarios: Instead of limiting the session to theoretical concepts, the speaker explained various situations through stories and personal life experiences. These examples helped students understand entrepreneurship in a practical way and showed how decisions, challenges, failures, and opportunities can shape an entrepreneur’s journey.
Key Learnings and Takeaways:
Opportunity Mindset: Students learned to observe problems and everyday situations as possible business opportunities.
Start with Resources Available: Entrepreneurship does not always require heavy investment. Skills, relationships, knowledge, and a strong community can also become valuable resources.
Understand People: Knowing the needs, behaviour, and expectations of customers or a target community is essential for creating a successful business.
Think Out of the Box: The session strongly encouraged students to challenge conventional thinking, explore new possibilities, and develop creative solutions instead of following the usual path.
Overall, the session provided students with a practical and motivating view of entrepreneurship. The speaker’s personal journey, business experiences, and real-life stories encouraged students to become more observant, confident, creative, and willing to take initiative.
