The Indian School of Business (ISB) proudly announced the graduation of the second cohort of its I-Venture Immersive (ivi) programme, celebrating 50 innovative startups that have completed a transformative six-month journey, strengthening their ventures for the next stage of growth. The graduation ceremony, held at ISB’s Hyderabad campus, honoured these pioneering founders in the presence of distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Kavikrut, CEO of T-Hub; Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB; and Professor Bhagwan Chowdhry, Faculty Director of ISB I-Venture.

For the past six months, ivi students have engaged with ISB’s faculty, a strong alumni network, top VCs, and experienced practitioners. Immersed in a vibrant and challenging ecosystem, they have honed their ability to think strategically, adapt with agility, and prepare their ventures for sustainable scale.

This year's cohort reflects the dynamic and diverse entrepreneurial landscape of India. The graduating ventures span a wide array of sectors, including consumer technology, D2C, edtech, agri-tech, health-tech, and cutting-edge AI-powered SaaS platforms. Notably, 35% of the founders were women, and the entrepreneurs' ages ranged from 18 to 49, with an average age of 28. This diverse mix included revenue-generating businesses, promising pre-revenue startups, and groundbreaking early-stage ideas, underscoring the programme's broad appeal and impact.

Addressing the gathering, T-Hub CEO Kavikrut shared valuable lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. He emphasised that skills learned in one context are widely applicable across different situations, encouraging graduates to embrace being generalists. He stressed the importance of taking moonshots within ventures, noting that even if most fail, one successful bold risk can transform a company's trajectory. Drawing from his experience at OYO, he highlighted how creating systems, identifying patterns, and assembling talented teams lead to non-linear growth. Kavikrut advised founders to look beyond traditional hiring criteria and focus on candidates with high intent rather than specific industry experience, concluding that consistent daily execution of seemingly boring tasks often yields surprising outcomes.

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, addressed the graduates, highlighting that entrepreneurship is a noble pursuit, especially in India, where fresh ideas and approaches are vital for progress. Acknowledging the challenges of the journey, he outlined three principles for success: practice generosity by bringing others along; surround yourself with positive, ambitious people who challenge and support you; and uphold integrity while taking risks and pushing boundaries. He expressed pride in the ivi programme as a reflection of ISB’s commitment to excellence and urged graduates to value the family and supporters who believe in their vision.

Professor Bhagwan Chowdhry, Faculty Director, ISB I-Venture, framed the event not as a graduation but as a commencement, emphasising that the entrepreneurs' real journey was just beginning. He proudly highlighted how the programme had reached a significant milestone with two completed cohorts, noting that within five years, they would have 500 entrepreneurs representing ivi and ISB globally.

As part of Phase 2 of the programme, selected ventures from the graduating class will receive funding of up to INR 40 lakhs and extended venture-building support to accelerate their growth. This crucial backing will enable them to refine their business models, develop prototypes, and move closer to market entry with the continued support of ISB's ecosystem.