IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), in collaboration with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), has completed the second edition of its Startup Bootcamp under the DICV–IIMCIP Social Impact Incubation Program for Viksit Bharat, bringing together 10 early‑stage startups for an intensive three‑day capacity‑building programme focused on sustainable and scalable entrepreneurship.
Bootcamp Strengthens Early‑Stage Founders
IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles have jointly concluded the second Startup Bootcamp of their DICV–IIMCIP Social Impact Incubation Program, designed to support emerging entrepreneurs in building sustainable and scalable ventures. The three‑day bootcamp gathered 10 startups for an intensive programme that combined expert‑led sessions, practical exercises, and mentorship in key areas of business management and entrepreneurship.
The bootcamp also aimed to equip founders with the tools and frameworks they need to navigate real‑world entrepreneurial challenges, strengthen their business models, and scale their solutions with a focus on social impact and long‑term sustainability. Organisers described the initiative as a step towards deepening India’s innovation ecosystem by investing in founder development and capacity‑building, rather than only funding or infrastructure support.
The organisers also noted that the bootcamp forms part of a broader, multi‑year effort to strengthen the startup ecosystem by nurturing founder capability, promoting innovation‑led entrepreneurship, and embedding long‑term business sustainability into early‑stage ventures.
Curriculum Focused on Core Business Skills
The programme featured a structured curriculum that covered critical functional domains for startups. Sessions on finance and accounting for startups helped founders understand basic financial statements, cash‑flow management, funding‑readiness, and key performance indicators. Faculty members from the Finance & Control Area at IIM Calcutta guided participants through practical frameworks they can apply directly to their own ventures.
Leadership and organisational growth were addressed through workshops on leadership, team building, and negotiation skills, led by experts from IIM Calcutta’s Behavioural Sciences and Organisational Behaviour group. These sessions also emphasised how founders can build cohesive teams, manage conflict, and communicate effectively with stakeholders, investors, and partners.
Branding and market positioning formed another key pillar of the bootcamp. A dedicated track on branding strategies helped startups refine their value proposition, develop clear messaging, and design go‑to‑market plans tailored to their target segments. Organisers also said participants left the bootcamp with more structured pitch decks, clearer value propositions, and concrete action plans for the next 6–12 months.
IIM Calcutta Ecosystem Faculty and Mentors Lead Sessions
The bootcamp leveraged the academic and practitioner expertise of IIM Calcutta’s ecosystem. Among the core faculty leading the sessions were Prof. Manju Jaiswal from the Finance & Control Area, who anchored the finance and accounting module for startups. Prof. Abhishek Goel from the Behavioural Sciences and Organisational Behaviour group conducted interactive workshops on leadership, team dynamics, and negotiation.
Professor Chandradeep Mitra, Visiting Faculty at IIM Calcutta and Founder & CEO of PipalMajik, led the branding and market‑strategy track, tailoring examples and frameworks to early‑stage, impact‑led ventures. Practitioner–mentors from IIMCIP’s network also joined the sessions, sharing real‑world case studies on fundraising, customer acquisition, and scaling challenges that startups typically face.
Strategic Vision of the DICV–IIMCIP Partnership
Dr. VK Rai, speaking for IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles. “We value our partnership with DICV and appreciate such capacity‑building programmes that are closely aligned to our focus on strengthening the ecosystem,” he said. “This initiative will equip emerging founders with the knowledge, mentorship, and strategic capabilities required to navigate entrepreneurial challenges and translate innovative ideas into scalable and sustainable businesses.”
Torsten Schmidt, representing DICV, emphasised the company’s broader belief in entrepreneurship and innovation as drivers of inclusive and sustainable economic growth. “At DICV, we believe entrepreneurship and innovation are critical drivers of inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he said. “Through our collaboration with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park under the Daimler Cares initiative, we aim to support emerging entrepreneurs with access to meaningful learning opportunities, mentorship, and ecosystem engagement. We are pleased to support initiatives that contribute towards strengthening India’s startup ecosystem and advancing the larger vision of a Viksit Bharat.”
By pairing IIM Calcutta’s academic rigour with DICV’s industry perspective and CSR‑aligned mandate, the programme also signals a growing trend of corporate–institution partnerships that move beyond transactional support towards sustained ecosystem‑building.
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